One of the goals of secondary science education is to help students develop skills related to scientific inquiry. However, the results of previous studies have shown that students have difficulties in identifying problems, formulating hypotheses, drawing conclusions, and designing experiments. The main objective of this contribution is to indicate…

The cell is a key concept, and accurate knowledge of it is essential for understanding many phenomena and biological processes, as well as the overall functioning of living beings. However, learning about this concept is not simple. Regarding this concept, we examined the views concerning problems that could be encountered by Master's students…

This study focuses on exploring the beliefs regarding the construction and development of Teacher's Professional Identity (TPI) of Secondary Education Master's Degree (SEMD) students from the areas of Science and Technology. An 'S-TPI' questionnaire, measured using a Likert scale, was used to obtain the opinions of 279 future teachers in the…

We describe part of an action-research programme in Spain which was based on metacognitive reflection. The participants were four science teachers in a secondary school during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years. During the study, they each analysed their own pupils' alternative ideas on photosynthesis and their teaching methods as recorded in…

Although a large number of Spanish secondary schools have preserved an important scientific heritage, including large scientific instrument collections, this heritage has never been officially protected. Their current state is very diverse, and although several research projects have attempted to initiate their recovery and use, their lack of…

Introduction: This study explores the level of assertiveness in various samples of students from Primary and Secondary Education. With the data obtained, on the one hand, we analyzed the relation between assertiveness and academic performance and, on the other, we verified whether students who are excluded from the norm, either because of their…

One key feature of scientific community is collaborative shared enquiry and problem solving mediated by electronic networks. We report on the development and evaluation of an ICT tool to support learning how to learn together (L2L2) in Science Education as part of an EC funded project called "Metafora" (FP7-ICT-2009.4.2/257872). Through…

A study was made of different emotions that prospective primary school teachers report with respect to science subjects, when they were pupils, and during their practice teaching, taking into account the variables gender and the specialty they studied in the secondary education. The study consisted of a questionnaire completed by 63 primary…

Introduction: Academic performance is usually generally explained by student's intelligence, although other factors such as personality and motivation also account for it. Factors associated with a more complex thought process in adolescence are also beginning to gain importance in the prediction of academic performance. Among these forms of…

This article analyzes how science textbooks used in secondary education (ages 12 and 13) in Spain have treated the subject of the historical evolution of the Universe. We have discovered many very important errors in the different textbooks that we reviewed. We focus on the errors that are committed most frequently. (Contains 1 table and 1 note.)

A nation-wide symposium on geology teaching was held in Spain, focusing on various aspects of geology curriculum and instruction at the secondary and college levels, including sessions on geology museums and the history/philosophy of geology. Indicates that a nationwide network of interested teachers was organized to update high school teachers.…

Lists and reviews 10 recently published books from Mexico and Spain that can assist Spanish-speaking students in understanding life science, sexuality, computers, and computer programming. Gives age levels and brief descriptions of each book. (CW)

This paper is based on fieldwork undertaken in the course of an evaluation of the science curriculum of the lower secondary level in Spain. This level of the Spanish school system has experienced an intense process of reform over the last 10 years. The paper analyses the process of change affecting the subject of Natural Sciences in the context of…

Determines teachers' opinions regarding the goals and objectives of the teaching of science within the framework of educational reform. Attempts to disclose to what extent educational thinking gives priority to the training of students in the scientific concepts, laws, and theories needed in further courses and how this thinking pays less…

Contrasts data gathered regarding how textbooks deal with natural selection and teacher's ability to explore pupils' ideas related to it with an approach seeking to develop the pupils' capacity to explain biological change using the model of natural selection. Results show the approach is often characterized by superficial handling of key ideas…