Jmol is free, open source software for interactive molecular visualization. Since it is written in the Java[TM] programming language, it is compatible with all major operating systems and, in the applet form, with most modern web browsers. This article summarizes Jmol development and features that make it a valid and promising replacement for…

In this article, we describe a preliminary study that integrates research on engineering design activities for K-12 students with work on microworlds as learning tools. Here, we extend these bodies of research by exploring whether--and how--authentic recreations of engineering practices can help students develop conceptual understanding of…

By studying and analyzing thoroughly the aspects of Indonesian culture, we may find many concepts of local wisdom that have been practiced in daily life of Indonesian people that can be beneficial for Information Technology study. Subak is a Balinese organization of irrigation systems, and is one example of local wisdom known widely in the world.…

This paper addresses the role experiments can play in concept development. The study used a qualitative phenomenography research methodology. The interactions of one student with an instructor in a series of eight sessions on electric circuits is reported. The first three session focused on diagnosing the students' prior conceptions of electric…

Describes science education programs established in Indonesia for high school graduates. The one-, two-, and three-year programs were established in response to the severe and growing shortage of secondary teachers in this country. A complementary inservice distant learning scheme to upgrade semi-qualified graduates of these programs is also…

The major portion of this publication is devoted to the presentation of 20 chemistry experiments dealing with corrosion of metals. The experiments are intended for high school level students or for chemistry teachers for demonstration purposes. Diagrams and illustrations accompany the written directions. Also included in this publication are…

What it means to be a "student" varies within and between countries. Apart from the wide variety of school types and school quality that is experienced by young people, there also is, accompanying increased rates of school participation, a growing population of students who work part-time. The theoretical and actual consequences of…

Using 3 waves of the TIMSS data, this study investigates the relationship between 8th-graders' mathematics and science achievement and their self-perceptions on these 2 subjects. For within-country data, there is generally a positive relationship between students' achievement and the following 3 measures of their self-perception: how much they…

Indonesian primary school children are taught to memorize science facts and learn only routine skills. School science lessons focus on low-order thinking as required on the frequent district formative tests and a national year six examination. Because of this emphasis on testing, students show little interest in asking questions about everyday…

Reports a classification of expository teaching styles of biology, chemistry and integrated science teachers in Nigeria. No evidence was found of pupil-pupil interaction in any of the lessons observed. Compares results with other studies from Britain, Canada, and Indonesia and indicates significant differences. (CW)

A wide range of recommendations for developing an effective network of scientific and technical information services in the Second Five-Year Plan of Indonesia are outlined here. The document indicates the importance of scientific and technical information in developing countries and proposes an approach to the problems of policy, finance, and…

Although the participation rates of females in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (or STEM) education is poor in most Western countries, considerable differences across countries exist as well. This may be due to differences in the so-called gender achievement gaps, that is, delays of one sex with respect to the other. The variation…

This seven-chapter document is designed for individuals who train preservice and inservice teachers and for individuals who train the teacher trainers. Chapter 1 (an introduction by Wynne Harlen) summarizes subsequent chapters. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 provide some general theoretical discussion about workshops. They are, respectively: "Learning…

Describes the development and validation of an instrument to test the biology-related attitudes of science students in grades 10-12 in Indonesia. Validation procedures included use of latent partition analysis to examine the conceptual structure of the instrument. (Author/JN)

Examines the role of practical activities in secondary science from an international perspective and contrasts this with a developing country perspective. In classroom studies of biology practical work, practical activities were found to be more effective in enhancing student achievement and skills than traditional didactic classroom approaches.…