Background: Cooperative learning may help students elaborate upon problem information through interpersonal discourse, and this may provoke a higher level of thinking. Interaction stimulates students to put forward and order their thoughts, and to understand the ideas or questions of their peer learner. However, partner gender is an important…

Presents an overview of the teaching of plastics at various levels of technological education in the Netherlands focusing on mechanical engineering. Highlights the design process and discusses the Dutch perspective of the role of materials engineering in engineering curricula. (ML)

Investigated the problems chemistry majors have with learning distillation concepts in traditional chemistry laboratory courses. Reports that students take the generalized concepts at face value, construct decontextualized concepts for distillation, and cannot interpret their observations or make reasoned decisions based on the theoretical…

The Dutch project on environmental education, which features decision making on environmental issues within its teaching materials, is described. The results of research done on teaching units entitled "Meat" and "Fuel" are outlined. (CW)

This study reports the first development in Australia of science teacher typologies of teacher-student interpersonal behaviour. Students' perceptions of teacher-student interpersonal behaviour were measured using the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI). Earlier work with the QTI in The Netherlands has revealed eight different interpersonal…

This study focuses on the shortage of graduates in science/technology in the Netherlands. First, the potential reserves of students in science/technology are mapped. Second, the effects of measures to mobilise the reserves are investigated in terms of size and cost effectiveness. Efforts aimed at solving the enormous shortage of higher education…

Media headlines often announce that U.S. students do not shine in international comparisons in mathematics and science, but seldom does any one focus on the specifics of how instruction differs among countries and how U.S. educators can alter their practices to improve student achievement. Examining key findings from the Third International…

The combination of mathematical and conceptual difficulties makes teaching quantum physics at secondary schools a precarious undertaking. With many of the conceptual difficulties being unavoidable, simplifying the mathematics becomes top priority. The particle/wave-in-a-box provides a teaching model which includes many aspects of serious …

This report presents the results of a study of eighth-grade science teaching, conducted as part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study. The Video Study is a supplement to the TIMSS 1999 student assessment, a successor to the TIMSS 1995 student assessment. The TIMSS 1999 Video Study had the broad purpose…

Describes the development and implementation of curriculum materials that discuss nuclear weapons and the evaluation of those materials by administrators, teachers, and students. Also discusses the place of the study of nuclear weapons in the curriculum and aims of the materials. Suggested student activities are included. (JM)

Investigates the knowledge that experienced science teachers have of models and modeling in science in the context of a school curriculum innovation project in which the role and the nature of models and modeling are emphasized. (Author/CCM)

For three reasons it is important to pay attention to the aspect of technology in the physics curriculum. First, physics and technology are closely related. Second, elements of technology in the physics curriculum can contribute to the process of career choice by pupils at general secondary schools when they think of going to a technical school…

Difficulties encountered by students when solving problems were examined using Program of Actions and Methods (PAM) for systematic problem solving in science. Difficulties encountered included those in analyzing the problem, planning the problem-solving process, executing routine operations, and those related to the ways teachers solve problems.…

The U.K. National Audit Office (NAO) commissioned RAND Europe to conduct this review to identify and synthesize international research about the effectiveness of community orders in reducing re-offending. In this report, we review research on ten of the common requirements contained in community orders. Through examining reviews, systematic…

The U.K. National Audit Office (NAO) commissioned RAND Europe to conduct this review to identify and synthesize international research about the effectiveness of community orders in reducing re-offending. In this report, we review research on ten of the common requirements contained in community orders. Through examining reviews, systematic…