A questionnaire was administered to first-year biology, physics and chemistry students in an Israeli university to assess their views on the nature of the contribution made by their high school courses to college achievement. Results indicate that high school curriculum influences attitudes, knowledge retention, expectations, and achievement in…

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)

Science/Technology/Society STS) has been defined as teaching and learning in the context of human experiences. The STS movement has grown out of dissatisfaction with the curriculum reform of the 1960s and utilizes a problem solving approach that appeals to students' interests. This paper describes the STS approach and reports research results…

The relationships and possible effects of various personal home and school variables on the acquisition of functional biological, chemical, and physical scientific knowledge by tenth grade Israeli students (n=544) was investigated. Biology was the only subject in which functional knowledge was significantly related to nonformal science activities.…

The development and administration of practical skills tests in science as part of the Second Science Study of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement are described. Scoring and sampling for Hungary, Israel, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the United States are reviewed. (SLD)

Examined is the relative status of school variables versus home variables to explain the variance in science achievement. The contribution of school variables was found to be both subject specific--larger in subjects taught in school and less dependent on general ability, and system specific--larger in low socioeconomic schools. (Author/CW)

The purpose of this study was to examine the home and school effects on science achievement of 12th-grade students (N=2,277) in Israel. Significant correlates of achievement included home environment, quantity of instruction, interest, and motivation. (IAH)

Effects of instruction with Foundational Approach in Science Teaching (FAST) environmental science materials on Hawaiian high school students included increased interest in studying science and higher achievement in high school biology. On the whole the FAST program has had positive effects on students regarding achievement, interest, and…

Reports on the implementation of an extracurricular course for fifth-grade students that focuses on the structure and function of animals. Students participate in direct observation of animals, watching videotapes, group discussion, and building kits and games. (DDR)

Changes in science education are examined and speculations made on what these changes imply for the future. Among the topics included are science subject matter, the learner and learning, curriculum development, science as inquiry, the laboratory, Piaget and science education, evaluation and teacher education. (PB)

The influence of selected science class attitudes and image of the science teacher on cognitive and affective outcomes was studied. Results and implications for science teachers are offered. (DF)

Discusses the nature of science as inquiry, differentiating between "science as inquiry" and "teaching/learning by inquiry." Provides evidence of confusion existing among teachers on the notion of inquiry and offers practical suggestions to teacher educators to help teachers better understand inquiry and to use the method in…

Presents a study which deals with cognitive preferences in agriculture of 943 Israeli middle-school (seventh and eighth grade) students and their teachers using a special cognitive preference inventory which was developed on the basis of the agricultural topics studies in Israeli schools. (HM)

Proposes an approach to school laboratory experiences which leads to gradual acquisition of inquiry skills based on the idea of advance organizers. Presents a design which is context familiar and can serve as an introduction to scientific inquiry. Discusses student achievement, and teacher and student attitudes. (CW)

A great number of misconceptions in diverse subject areas as well as across age levels have been documented and described. Photosynthesis is one of the more intensively studied areas in biology. The purpose of this research was to carefully select and define misconceptions about photosynthesis needing remedial efforts. To achieve this, a specially…