Science programs provided for primary school have not always been successful. A major reason suggested is that some programs place demands on teachers which many teachers find difficult to meet and which give rise to concerns which restrict their development as teachers of science. Based on the work of the the Learning in Science Project…

This is one of five panel reports that have been prepared as part of the first phase of Project 2061, a long-term, multipurpose undertaking of the American Association for the Advancement of Science designed to help reform science, mathematics, and technology education in the United States. Major sections included are: (1) "Orienting…

Environmental education is generally thought to be an approach to teaching and learning that will help students develop the knowledge, skills, and values basic to environmental problem solving. This report addresses the need for environmental education and attempts to clarify definitions of some of the efforts such as outdoor education and…

The goal of this monograph is to explain the evaluation program designed by Schaumburg Community Consolidated District 54, Schaumberg, Illinois. It discusses the process used in the development of the model, the product, the implication for classroom teachers and the effects of using an evaluation to assess science process skills. The process…

The outgrowth of a conference on how science education can best meet the needs and expectations of society, this volume is designed to provide a source of information and ideas about the future of the school science curriculum. It contains 15 papers, including: "Critical Questions and Tentative Answers for the School Science Curriculum"…

Discusses the recent increases in funding to the science and engineering directorate at the National Science Foundation. Credits the resurgence to the United States Congress. Questions how long the rise in the science education budget will be maintained. (TW)

Reports on the progress of the "Science Through Discovery" program of the Richardson (Texas) Independent School District. Results of a study into the program indicate that students have improved their attitudes about science, as well as their decision-making skills regarding technological issues. (TW)

Reviews the School in the Exploratorium (SITE) program at the San Francisco museum of art and science. Stresses the value of an interdisciplinary approach to science education in a museum setting. Points out the importance of play in engaged observation. Highlights aesthetics in art and science. (CW)

Described are three science and mathematics educational reform programs--Project 2061; Scope, Sequence and Coordination; and NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standards. Discussed are the needs for educational reform and the steps that each program is taking. (KR)

Reflecting recent policy and standards initiatives, emerging research agendas, and key innovations, this volume provides a contemporary overview of important developments and issues that have that have in recent years shaped elementary science education pre-service courses and professional development, and practices that are shaping future…

One area explored in the second (in-depth) phase of the Learning in Science Project was "children's science," defined as views of the world and the meanings for words that children have and bring with them to science lessons. The investigation reported focuses on students' (N=39) ideas on the concept of "animal." Data were…

This paper discusses the development of new curricula, materials, and equipment in Japan. The first section, "The Development of New Curricula," discusses the National Curriculum Council and the improvement of the content of instruction, including basic directions for improvement, the structure and content of school subjects, and the…

This document is the last of three volumes of the proceedings of an international seminar which focused on student misconceptions in science and mathematics as well as teaching strategies intended to deal with those misconceptions. An introduction to the volume explains the format of the conference and the organization of the sessions. It stresses…

As the supply of mathematics and science teachers in the United States falls short of demand, there is a search for ways to increase the supply. The policy responses being tried include making all teaching positions more attractive through improved salaries and professionalization, offering general and targeted college scholarships and loans to…

Evidence from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and other sources suggests that both the content and structure of our school science curricula are generally incongruent with the ideals of the scientific enterprise. By neglecting the kinds of instructional activities that make purposeful connections between the study and…