One area explored in the second (in-depth) phase of the Learning in Science Project was "children's science," defined as views of the world and the meanings for words that children have and bring with them to science lessons. The investigation reported focuses on the concept of "light" held by 36 students. Data were obtained…

The Learning in Science Project established that children from a young age construct out of their everyday experiences views which they use to explain their world and that these views are remarkably resistant to replacement by scientifically more useful views. Although science lessons tend to be based upon activities which are designed by teachers…

The Learning in Science Project has adopted the view that science teaching might be improved if teachers can be given some appreciation of students' views of the world and the beliefs, expectations, and language that learners bring to new learning situations. This investigation focuses on the views that children (N=34) may have about rocks and…

The Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--investigated the questions and explanations primary children have about rocks. Data were collected during teaching sessions from New Zealand students (ages 8-11) and Australian students (ages 10-11). The teaching sessions required the teacher to create a situation in which children generated some…

The topic of metals is frequently taught in primary schools. However, when metals are suggested as one of a series of topics for study, students often initially show little enthusiasm for the topic. To determine the ideas that children have about metals the Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--interviewed thirty-eight 9- to 10-year-old…

An alternative approach for teaching primary school science has been proposed by the Learning in Science Project (Primary--LISP(P). This study investigated the use of the approach during three series of lessons on the topic "metals." Each series followed the same general pattern: (1) an introductory session to stimulate children to ask…

Readability in distance learning, the cloze procedure as a means of assessing readability, and the preparation of distance learning materials are addressed in the following 14 conference papers: "Some Suggestions for Improving the Reading/Comprehension Skills of Students at a Distance" (Jean Anderson); "Student Response to the…

Some years a go, representatives of the New Zealand government recognized the need to educate people regarding the hazards of the outdoors and to teach the skills necessary for survival. The functions of the Mountain Safety Council are explained, and a typical training program is described. (KM)

The Standing Committee on Teacher Training, Advisory Council on Educational Planning, asserts in this report that the institutions at present engaged in tertiary education--teachers colleges, technical institutes, and universities--despite some degree of overlap, have distinct areas of concern. The content and range of courses as well as methods…

Guidance coordinators in secondary schools (n=100) in New Zealand were surveyed concerning guidance services for special needs students, focusing on types of guidance staff available, their involvement with special needs students, service changes over time, and satisfactions and dissatisfactions. Findings related to the roles and resourcefulness…

Describes the means used and problems faced during an effort to implement, maintain, and improve a national program for disseminating training in educational administration to secondary school administrators in New Zealand's Central Region, an administrative area containing 80 secondary schools, by depending on the first trainees to train others.…

Student teachers spend a high proportion of their time in schools as part of their preservice training. Concern has been expressed about moves to increase this time, because it appears that much of what occurs in the schools more closely resembles a teacher training model than one of teacher education. This study sought to investigate whether…

This project on national standards and accreditation of career practitioners is set against a background of unprecedented interest by governments nationally and internationally in the provision of career guidance services. Currently more is known about the policy and delivery of career guidance than at any other time in history. There is growing…

Discusses methodologies used to observe children at work in science classrooms and to handle data collected from such observations. Audience, observational mechanisms, and research strategies are considered in separate sections. Methodologies as applied to the Learning in Science Project are also considered. (JN)

Describes the history, management, staffing, facilities, services, and automation of the libraries in the six universities and one university college in New Zealand, and summarizes the history and current state of libraries in teachers' colleges, technical institutes, and community colleges. Article includes photographs of some of the libraries.…