Background: Scientific thinking is an essential learning goal of science education and it can be fostered by inquiry learning. One important prerequisite for scientific thinking is procedural understanding. Procedural understanding is the knowledge about specific steps in scientific inquiry (e.g. formulating hypotheses, measuring dependent and…

The European Commission policy approach of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is gaining momentum in European research planning and development as a strategy to align scientific and technological progress with socially desirable and acceptable ends. One of the RRI agendas is science education, aiming to foster future generations'…

Background: This study explored how Saudi Arabian pre-service science teachers' (PST) use of social media (SM) creates scientific dialogue. Design and method: Data were collected via (a) in-depth interviews with eight science PSTs completing their practice teaching during a field experience course (2017 academic year at a Saudi Arabia Eastern…

Background: In science education today, there is an emerging focus on what is happening in situ, making use of an array of analytical traditions. Common practice is to use one specific analytical framing within a research project, but there are projects that make use of multiple analytical framings to further the understanding of the same data,…

This research presents a multiple case study investigating the personal frameworks of pre-service science teachers as they experience a science in society course. Through examining the metaphors employed by the participants' student experiences were illuminated. These experiences revealed shifts in frameworks over time that were more consistent…

Describes a study designed to achieve the following goals: (1) compare the perceptions of learning environment in biology and chemistry classrooms by Jewish and Arab students; (2) identify gender effects in the Arab sample on learning environments; and (3) compare the perceptions of Arab students in rural and city schools. (ZWH)

Describes a study that interviewed 32 students to determine their understanding of the meaning of a range of science processes. A total of 63 misconceptions was identified. (ZWH)

Describes a preliminary survey of the views held by second-year sixth form students (n=421) on a range of subjects at A level and degree level, with a particular focus on mathematics and physics. (ZWH)

Engages 260 fifth form chemistry students in a study aimed at identifying some correlates of students' performances in chemical problem solving at the secondary school level. Results revealed that students' attitudes, possession of the relevant chemical and mathematical knowledge and skills, and ability to think logically were significantly…

Describes an instrument developed to assess students' or teachers' perceptions of five dimensions of actual or preferred classroom environment: student cohesiveness, open-endedness, integration, rule clarity, and material environment. Instrument is included in the appendix. (ZWH)

Analyzes curricular implications regarding theoretical versus applicative preferences of students (n=119) studying a scientific-technological subject. A major conclusion relating to the curriculum designers and implementors was that even students who have difficulties with theoretical subjects stand a chance of coping with the demands of the…

Examines the following hypotheses: (1) a relationship exists between school achievement and success in first year university physics; (2) tertiary success is a function of the motivation and metacognitive strategies of the learners; and (3) a weighted combination of indicators will allow significant discrimination between levels of tertiary…

Discusses a study designed to investigate pupils' conceptions about fluids and particularly liquids in equilibrium, with reference to the concept of pressure. Based upon the results obtained, several mental models of how pupils understand liquids in equilibrium were proposed. (ZWH)

Reports on gender differences in the perceptions of General Certificate of Secondary Education and A level pupils toward technology-based courses. The study involving 90 male and 94 female pupils revealed that technology is perceived as being similar to science subjects rather than to craft subjects and both group's perceptions of technology are…

Discusses a study designed to obtain information about the activities of the coordinators (teachers with subject expertise) in regard to both initial teacher training and inservice education and training for science coordination. (ZWH)