Background: There are frequent calls in the literature for school science and mathematics departments to collaborate, largely in response to perceived overlaps between the two subjects in the context of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Yet few studies explore how such collaborations might work. This paper is unusual both in…

The purpose of this work was to investigate ways in which everyday computers can be used in schools to fulfil several of the roles of more expensive, specialized laboratory equipment for teaching and learning purposes. The brief adopted was to keep things as straightforward as possible so that any school science department with a few basic tools…

This article investigates the metaphorical duality that exists when school subject departments are concurrently conceptualized as both communities and organizations. Employing a narrative methodology, we use the metaphorical duality to examine the manner in which science teachers negotiate two key aspects of their work; professional learning and…

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the IFT Foundation, and Discovery Education partnered to create and distribute food science information to science department and school counselor chairs in all 18,000 U.S. high schools in January 2006. Two multimedia "kits" were generated for teachers and counselors, each consisting of DVDs with food…

To examine how school characteristics are tied to science and engineering views and aspirations of students who are underrepresented in science and engineering fields, this mixed-methods study explores relationships between aspects of students' science identities, and the representation of women among high school science teachers. Quantitative…

Questionnaire responses from 193 high schools indicate that very few science teachers use microcomputers regularly in classrooms. Descriptions of schools/science departments, background information on faculty using microcomputers, and nature/extent of utilization are discussed along with possible causes of limited use and recommendations for…

The Penn Department of Chemistry established a strong relationship with regional school districts to develop a unique program for current secondary science teachers, resulting in the June 2000 implementation of the Master of Chemistry Education (MCE) Program. The program has equipped teachers with the tools to conduct this inquiry, thus yielding…

Describes the physics teaching conditions at Solihull Sixth Form College, a comprehensive secondary school in the County Borough of Solihull, United Kingdom. Available physics course, timetable, teaching system, laboratories and study rooms, and future developments are also discussed. (HM)

One of five articles on professional development schools in this theme issue. Describes the experiences of University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a collaborative, internship-based secondary teacher education program--Math English Science Technology Education Project (MESTEP)--and the university's collaboration with a high school science…

A survey of science and English teachers in 10 Scottish secondary schools indicated a complex relationship between a teacher's identity as a subject expert, subject department boundaries, and authority relationships. Teachers felt they had little influence on general school policies. (f=fiche numbers). (CP)