Presented is an activity for teaching linear algebra to grade 7 or grade 8 students. The activity is taken from the "Victorian Secondary Reality in Maths Education" (RIME) Pack. The activity called "Backtracking" builds on intuitions and understandings that students already possess. (RH)

Described is a project, "Mathematics at Work," being produced by the Australian Academy of Science to meet the needs of students staying in school to years 11 and 12 and requiring a "relevant" mathematics curriculum. Materials have been produced and are being used in a trial program. Additional materials are in preparation.…

Outlines the study of a curriculum development project, analyzing the decision-making processes involved in each phase and raising questions about the general process of curriculum development. (MD)

Presents a science project involving the production, transportation, handling and preparation of food for human consumption. Calculations of caloric value of the food intake and the energy costs of cooking are included. (Author/SA)

Reviews five of a series of 19 games from Longman Science Games Series, Longman, Australia. The games are appropriate for junior and senior high students. (CP)

Outlines the Salter's approach to teaching and learning science at the Junior Secondary level by showing how the phenomenon of fire is treated in curriculum materials. Discusses contents of the teachers' guide, student texts, and assessment pack. Gives an evaluation of the usefulness of the approach in the Australian context. (Author/MKR)

The teaching of science demands the regular use of diagrams and sketches which may be formal or informal. This document outlines some basic guidelines, principles, and suggestions for preparing these diagrams. Topics covered include: basic drawing, shapes, lines and angles, contrast and shading, and lettering. (JRH)

Describes the method used at Macquarie University, Australia, for implementing the home experiment approach in first-year biology. The sequences of activities for experiments in plant growth are included; and assignment sheets are appended. (CS)

Discusses the use of games in the classroom. Describes two games involving the identification of Australian animals including complete instructions and rules for each game. (DS)

Part 3 of this five part project asks students of the Tasmanian region of Australia to explore the history of Port Arthur, a 19th century penal colony located in Tasmania. The project is based on three ideas: (1) studying history can be educational and enjoyable; (2) imagination is an essential part of studying history; and (3) history is most of…

This paper discusses issues in instructional material development for rural gifted children in Australia. Issues include who should develop curriculum materials, what form should enrichment materials take, which theoretical frameworks are appropriate, and how should content be selected. Interdisciplinary materials used in developing a unit in…

Examines the possibility of developing a socially critical geography curriculum in Australian schools. Emphasizes teachers' responsibility to evaluate, select, and use appropriate instructional materials. Explains technical, interpretive, and critical approaches to geography instruction by contrasting three activities based on "Women of…

It is imperative to identify the impact of technological advancements on the quality of student learning. This article reports first-year undergraduate students' perceptions of and experiences with a Web-based writing support program. Two research questions guided the study: (1) What is the nature of first-year students' interactions with…

Australian elementary school teachers were surveyed to ascertain knowledge about use of social studies curriculum material. Case studies and representative interviews were used to formulate a questionnaire, the results of which indicated that teachers were not actively involved in material selection and analysis. (Author/DF)