During the 1980s increasing attention was paid to writing-to-learn elementary school subjects outside of traditional language arts courses. The concept of writing-to-learn in science has much in common with the concept of a science learning community premised upon a social constructivist epistemology. This paper reports on research designed to…

This study focuses on the need to know more about Nevada science teachers, their current teaching situations, their educational and experience backgrounds, their needs, and their opinions. Questionnaires were mailed to all 471 Nevada educational personnel assigned to teach science classes in the spring of 1990. The number of respondents was 345.…

The first (exploratory) phase of the Learning in Science Project focused on science teaching/learning in the Form 1 to 4 level (ages 10 to 14) and sought to identify problems and difficulties in several areas. Provided in this paper are comments obtained during structured/unstructured interviews (from students, ex-students, teachers, headmasters,…

Many reports have pointed to the need to improve the quality of mathematics and science teaching in schools in the United States and to alleviate the shortage of qualified teachers. A policy focus on the teaching force is reinforced by the fact that the ability of the United States to compete in an increasingly technological world economy depends…

Presented are analytical abstracts, prepared by science educators, of four research studies classified as relating to science curricula, four studies about learning, and one study on the evaluation of an instrument designed to measure students' orientation toward science. Three of the curriculum studies each relate to a specific curriculum project…

Presents findings from a case study of one fifth grade student's efforts to construct meaning in her science class during a unit on light. Contends that students' efforts to construct meaning may suggest instructional approaches that guide learners to consider and grasp scientific explanations while still valuing their own insights and abilities…

Responding to the increasing math and science teacher shortage in the United States, this study intended to determine which science, engineering, and math (SEM) majors during which years in their undergraduate education and from which academic performance levels are most interested in K-12 teaching. Results may aid policymakers and practitioners…

This study examined the effects of instructional control and aptitude composition on performance, interaction, and attitudes during a computer-based cooperative science lesson. A sample of 152 fifth and sixth grade students completed the instruction either under the learner control (LC) or the program control (PC) treatment. In the LC treatment,…

Described and summarized are the results of a program designed to improve the intellectual, academic, and linguistic functioning of children in a linguistically and culturally mixed setting. The program, Multicultural Improvement of Cognitive Abilities (MICA), was installed and supported by project staff in nine participating classrooms under two…

Presents a report on the first phase of a large scale meta-analysis of the field of science education in which the major research questions pursued in the extant science education research literature were identified and organized to provide a conceptual framework for meta-analysis. The six major research questions identified from this project are…

This issue of "Investigations in Science Education" (ISE) provides analytical abstracts, prepared by science educators, of research reports in the areas of preservice and in-service teacher education for elementary and secondary science teachers; and in cognitive development of elementary and secondary school children. Each abstract…

Reports on a continuing project to study children's use of the Science Library Catalog (SLC), a graphically based direct manipulation microcomputer interface for locating science materials in elementary school libraries. Search success on SLC, which uses HyperCard, is compared with a Boolean system; effects of age and gender are studied; and user…

Describes the Quality Elementary Science Teaching (QUEST) program developed at Indiana University to improve the quality of science education by preparing prospective elementary school teachers more effectively. Highlights include uses of technology in science and education courses and results of surveys that measured students' computer attitudes…

Describes the nineteenth-century object teaching revolution as a case study of educational change that occurred because of teacher education. Ideas of Pestalozzi were successfully introduced in America when Sheldon utilized inservice and preservice teacher education and education of teacher educators to spread the method. Object teaching shifted…

Levels of achievement and participation in both school mathematics and school science remain unacceptable throughout most of the nation. Addressing these concerns has unique and specific ramifications for small rural schools, particularly with respect to the economic aspects of providing the materials and manipulatives necessary for hands-on…