Understanding the nature of science and scientific inquiry constitute foundation stones in scientific education in general and in scientific literacy in particular. Therefore, students must develop informed perceptions regarding science inquiry in order to be scientifically literate. The current study's purpose was to examine students' perceptions…

This study examines the effects of a place-based intervention program on the sense of place of Bedouin elementary school students. These students live on the banks of the polluted Hebron Stream in Israel, where a three-pronged restoration program has recently been established, including the stream's rehabilitation, the establishment of local waste…

Recent efforts in the science education community have highlighted the need to integrate research and theory from science communication research into more general science education scholarship. These synthesized research perspectives are relatively novel but serve an important need to better understand the impacts that the advent of rapidly…

Background: Outdoor learning and computer-based learning are two different alternatives to in-class conventional teacher-centered learning. Purpose: This study compares the outdoor learning setting with computer-based learning in class. It examines the influence of the two different learning settings on academic achievements, the learning…

In teaching inquiry to high school students, educators differ on which method of teaching inquiry is more effective: Guided or open inquiry? This paper examines the influence of these two different inquiry learning approaches on the attitudes of Israeli high school biology students toward their inquiry project. The results showed significant…

Many of the explanations for girls' disinterest in physics focus on the role of the educational system in creating this situation. Here, we use evidence from free-choice science learning settings to study if this lack of interest is also expressed in non-school settings. Three sets of self-generated questions raised by children, adolescents and…

This study examined 12th-grade biology students' opinions and beliefs on the desirability of the use and/or development of various biotechnologies. Describes the development of and presents results from the three questionnaires employed in the study. Includes a listing of the 15 biotechnology topics investigated in the study. (ML)

Describes students' perceptions of their studies in the Preacademic School at the Hebrew University and discusses their attitudes, expectations, and opinions with regard to a desirable preacademic preparatory program. Students expressed concern about deficiencies in learning skills. (ML)

Examined ability levels, attitudes, expectations, and affective outcomes of junior high students (N=147) who voluntarily enrolled in extracurricular science activities at Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel). Results indicate that for high ability students there is a need for theoretical and experimental independent study which can be found in…

Compared student attitudes (N=211) toward chemistry/mathematics. Results indicate no significant differences between liking a subject and its importance or application, with mathematics being seen as more important and more useful than chemistry. Suggests that teachers must spend more time and energy in developing positive attitudes toward…

Describes a science program designed to attract children to science through an extended study of biology. Presents a detailed description of the various professional development activities and the results of the formative evaluation of the program. (DDR)

Compares classroom environment in a group which used multimodal computer-based activities with that of a control group which used traditional science instruction strategies. Results indicate that for most climate dimensions, students in the experimental group perceived their classroom in a more positive light than did students in the control…

The purpose of this study is to elaborate the issue of exemplary teaching in chemistry in the context of a centralized educational system, in which chemistry curriculum development and implementation are also centrally controlled. Students' perceptions of the learning environment were also investigated. (KR)

Presented is an analysis of 40 research studies which compared the achievement in science and the attitudes of Israeli male and female students toward science and science learning. Grades covered include 5-12. A list of 55 references is included. (CW)

Representative samples of 10-, 14-, and 17-year-old Israeli students, about 2,000 in each, responded to background questionnaires and a battery of tests and scales concerning their conceptions of the nature of science and views about the scientific enterprise. A comparison is made between Israeli, British, and U.S. students. (LZ)