This document contains 59 papers presented at a recent national conference dealing with the relationships among science, technology, and society (STS), with a particular emphasis on technological literacy. The papers deal with such topics as: (1) the concepts and frameworks of technological literacy; (2) STS and technological literacy at the…

The thrust of this book is to indicate relative priorities of technology and the rationale for investment in United States space technology to meet future needs as assessed by the Committee on Advanced Space Technology. In part one, a discussion of potential mission sets is given, including: (1) "Mission Requirements for Space Transportation;…

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)

Reports on the results of case studies of science teaching at the elementary level. Two teachers from two elementary schools were studied. Addresses issues in elementary science teaching ranging from the importance at the elementary level to gender differences in science instruction. (TW)

The purpose of the Exemplary Practice in Science and Mathematics Education (EPSME) study was to identify high quality science and mathematics teaching, to document exemplary practice through case studies, and to investigate key characteristics common to exemplary teaching in different sites. This paper discusses the case studies which considered…

The Learning in Science Project established that children from a young age construct out of their everyday experiences views which they use to explain their world and that these views are remarkably resistant to replacement by scientifically more useful views. Although science lessons tend to be based upon activities which are designed by teachers…

The Learning in Science Project has adopted the view that science teaching might be improved if teachers can be given some appreciation of students' views of the world and the beliefs, expectations, and language that learners bring to new learning situations. This investigation focuses on the views that children (N=34) may have about rocks and…

The Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--investigated the questions and explanations primary children have about rocks. Data were collected during teaching sessions from New Zealand students (ages 8-11) and Australian students (ages 10-11). The teaching sessions required the teacher to create a situation in which children generated some…

The topic of metals is frequently taught in primary schools. However, when metals are suggested as one of a series of topics for study, students often initially show little enthusiasm for the topic. To determine the ideas that children have about metals the Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--interviewed thirty-eight 9- to 10-year-old…

The Atlantic Science Curriculum Project was launched in 1976 at the Atlantic Institute of Education in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, as a regional initiative. This account of the project provides its aims, its experience, and its lessons for others similarly engaged in the task of improving curriculum and instruction. This paper was written at a…

Recent research shows that students' understanding of many scientific topics is influenced by misconceptions that conflict with accepted scientific theories and persist even after instruction. In this study, student misconceptions were identified and used as a basis for analyzing the classroom behavior of teachers and students and for developing…

Discusses some of the major research in science education published during the last 10 years in order to raise some of the methodological issues involved. Illustrates the progress that has been made along the path toward a science of teaching science. (CW)

Identifies two stages in research on scientific literacy; a composite saturation stage in which definitions covered all objects of science education, and a stage when researchers focused on small manageable portions of scientific literacy. Describes formal, nonformal, and informal science teaching. (TW)

Addresses several questions related to British secondary students' choices in science, particularly as they relate to gender differences. Cites several national surveys that suggest that girls tend to choose biological science courses, while boys choose physical and technological science courses. (TW)

Describes an experiment involving data acquisition by a computer, digital signal transmission from the computer to a digital logic circuit and signal interpretation by this circuit. The system is being used at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Discusses the fundamental concepts involved. Demonstrates the alarm experiment as it is used in…