This edited book explores different international practices in reforming science teacher education programs for STEM education. Incorporating case studies in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and South America, the contributors emphasise the large variety in STEM teacher preparation. Including science-centric versions of STEM…

We offer insights for using design-based research (DBR) as a model for constructing professional development that supports curriculum and instructional knowledge regarding science and literacy integration. We spotlight experiences in the DBR process from data collected from a sample of four elementary teachers. Findings from interviews, focus…

In the context of an education reform in Quebec, this case study illustrates how a science teacher's practice was redefined with nine classes over a period of four months on a specific, integrative theme inspired by issues of daily life in an attempt to increase her students' motivation and to better make sense of some scientific concepts…

The Conference Board of Canada ranked us 14th out of the 17 major industrialized nations on measures of innovation, and our "productivity" track record has fared no better. Experts around the world agree that education is the key foundational building block for innovation skill development, and that the seeds of innovation--curiosity,…

This article proposes strategies and practices that create rich discursive spaces for learning science in French immersion contexts. These strategies and practices are drawn from a variety of scholarly sources; here we adapt them to reading in the French immersion science classroom. The strategies and practices are designed for use in a…

Purpose: This study aims to examine the experience of 31 university students who were issued tablet PCs for their use during an academic year. The primary research problem which drove this project revolved around the student perceptions of the benefits of technology to provide opportunities to restructure their learning experiences.…

"School Innovation in Science" represents a model, developed through working with more than 200 Victorian schools, to improve science teaching and learning. SIS works at the level of the science team and the teacher, providing resources to challenge and support the change process. Its emphasis is on strategic planning supported by a…

This study investigated the appropriateness both to the delivery system and to students of Athabasca University of the audiotutorial method of instruction in an introductory level Biology course, which used selections of audiotutorial materials from "Minicourses in Biology." Evaluation data were gathered by using pre-post test (content)…

Examined beliefs and principles of one science teacher using the Repertory Grid Technique. The technique is illustrated thoroughly with ample interview segments provided. The significance of the study is argued within the framework of curriculum and instructional innovation and implementation. (Author/JN)

A grade 6/7 teacher and a teacher educator-researcher team-taught science to 29 students by framing science projects as adventure. Ethnographic data revealed that small-group instruction, whole-class discussions, and presentations to outside audiences provided progressive opportunities for students to exchange ideas and motivated students and…

Possible relationships between industrial innovation and science education are discussed, focusing on three systems for studying the process of development and identifying certain determining factors. The purpose of the approach is to identify the salient characteristics of the industrial world, technological development, and science teaching by…

This research paper describes the use of computer mediated conferencing (CMC) to support the teaching of biology to undergraduates. The use of this pedagogical innovation was a first-time experience for both the instructor and his students. The objectives of this project were to increase students' active participation, to facilitate collaborative…

Development of post-secondary curriculum in emerging interdisciplinary fields presents particular challenges in course design and resource utilization, especially when the field is interdisciplinary by nature of its inherent breadth. A new course at the University of Calgary, designed to introduce undergraduate students to the methods and…

Compared the science attitudes of tenth-grade students from British Columbia, Canada, in 1986 with those from tenth-grade students in 1989 after a three-year science-technology-society instructional period. No positive change in students' attitudes toward science was registered. (13 references) (MDH)