The USA has had a new set of science standards entitled the Next Generation Science Standards since 2014. While their adoption has not been ubiquitous, as curriculum choices are a state rather than a federal decision, they have been adopted by 19 states (plus the District of Columbia). Moreover, they have been influential on the curriculum choices…

Backward design provides a framework for curriculum planning that can be used at unit, course or school level. The approach places assessment at the heart of the planning process. In this article the ideas of backward design are outlined and their application to a current curriculum development project, York Science, is described.

Microscale chemistry has become accepted and introduced into teaching worldwide. It can be applied to all areas of chemistry and under most circumstances, including where the usual infrastructure is absent. Anyone considering its introduction must be prepared to do a lot of work on it to ensure its success as an educational innovation. (Contains 1…

This is the text of the lecture of the British Secretary of State for Education and Science given at the 1978 Meeting of the Association for Science Education (ASE). Three themes are presented; (1) British innovative science curricula; (2) relationship between science and technology; and (3) science for non-scientist. (HM)

Presents courses, projects and teaching styles relating to different areas of science that are used in British schools. School science for the education of all, chemistry-O level syllabus, and teaching styles in the Nuffield A-level Physics course are examples of information presented. (HM)

Reports on the "Chemistry School" Project which explored the practicalities of using multimedia in secondary school science departments. Finds that although multimedia has many benefits for subject teachers, the problems of using it in everyday teaching are quite complex. Argues that simply training teachers to use information and…