This article questions the need for relatively shallow, widespread, scientific literacy across a broad range of topics if it lacks the conceptual depth, and/or intellectual rigour, to provide any basis for rational, scientifically informed choices. We suggest that "functional," widespread scientific literacy should only be taught in key…

This book contains a compilation of papers presented at the International Conference on Education and New Developments (END 2017), organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (W.I.A.R.S.). Education, in our contemporary world, is a right since we are born. Every experience has a formative effect on the constitution of the…

The study in this paper was carried out in the framework of an evidence-based continuous professional development (CPD) programme in which teachers documented evidence about their practice in a portfolio. The context of the CPD was related to the "Learning Skills for Science" (LSS) programme, which advocates the incorporation of…

Presents seven selected middle school science activities which could be used in school science courses. (HM)

Presents eight selected middle school science notes which could be used in school science courses. Each includes the name of the author and a description of activities suggested. (HM)

Presents six selected middle school science notes which could be used in school science courses. Each includes the name of the author and a description of activities presented. (HM)

Presents six short articles on middle school science activities. Each includes the name of the author and a description of activities suggested. (HM)

Describes a British project which aims to produce a series of case studies of science education in middle and comprehensive schools. The methodology used to carry out the case studies and the structure of the framework of the project are included. (HM)

Presents six middle school science notes for British science teachers. Some of these notes are: (1) fingerprints; (2) the floating magnet; and (3) the production of electricity using a lemon. (HM)

Reports on a qualitative research study on electricity carried out in 1998 on alternative conceptions (ACs) held by a select group of middle school teachers. The study was designed to identify the nature and origin of the ACs of these teachers and relate them to other similar studies carried out by other researchers. (Contains 27 references.)…

Three years after end of 2-year intervention program intended to promote formal operational thinking, achievement of students initially age 11 was tested by their results on British National examinations, taken at age 16 (experimental group n=88, control group n=103). In comparison with control classes, the effect size for science was 0.67,…

Describes the organization of a school's physics competition for middle school students sponsored by Physics Section of STEEL (Science, Technology and Engineering Education in Lancaster) and an industry group. Presents one typical problem, marking, and prizes for the competition. A suggested marking scheme is appended. (YP)

The research is concerned with investigating children's understanding of physical, chemical, and biological changes while using an approach developed by the project Energy and Change. This project aimed to provide novel ways of teaching about the nature and direction of changes, in particular introducing ideas related to the Second Law of…

This study investigates the relationship between the students' understanding of the aims of an investigative activity and their performance when conducting it. One hundred and eighty-one year nine students from a public middle school in Brazil took part in the study. Students working in pairs were asked to investigate two problems using a…

Discusses affective dimensions in school science. Uses data from two case studies and explores ways in which science has the potential to stimulate and challenge emotions. Discusses the importance of affect in learning, how emotions might feature more centrally in science classrooms, and how definitions of scientific literacy might more explicitly…