In response to the need for improved mathematics and science education for all students, the Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE) states have enacted policy initiatives to raise graduation requirements; increase standards for teacher preparation; revise state curriculum guides and frameworks; and develop statewide student…

This paper outlines the goals, design, implementation and results of a project of the State Education Assessment Center of the Council of Chief State School Officers to develop state indicators of the condition of science and mathematics education in elementary and secondary schools. The goals of the project include: (1) improving the quality and…

Abstracts and abstractors' critiques of 10 published research reports related to misconceptions, attitudes, gender and miscellaneous issues are presented in this issue. Studies include: (1) the development, revision, refinement, and partial validation of an instrument to assess preservice elementary teachers' process orientation toward science;…

Reform documents have provided a framework for advancing science education (e.g., The Australian National Science Standard Committee, 2002), but omit the need to assess preservice teachers prior knowledge for designing effective learning programs. A pretest-posttest 34-item survey linked to the course outcomes (associated with four constructs)…

This report summarizes the findings and conclusions from the first phase of a study entitled "Assessment of Initiatives Available to Address Problems and Opportunities in K-12 Science Education." The study was done for the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of its response to a congressional requirement that NSF seek outside…

In March, 1986, the National Science Foundation (NSF) commissioned a study designed to assess initiatives available to NSF to address problems and opportunities in K-12 science education. The first part of this volume presents a detailed discussion of "core functions" for the NSF in K-12 science education (promoting professional…

The Council of Chief State School Officers is in the process of assessing reforms that are aimed at improving science and mathematics education at the elementary and secondary levels. This document provides tabulations of the number of states that currently collect data on various indicators of science and mathematics education. Six categories of…

This summary of research developed by the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education contains two main sections: Research on Teaching and Research on Learning. The first section contains subsections on Curriculum and Instruction, Science Teacher Education. Curriculum and Instruction, Cognition and Achievement, and…

This volume presents a compilation and review of more than 400 research studies on science teaching and the preparation of science teachers that were reported in 1988, organized into 10 sections. The sections are: (1) "Professional Concerns"; (2) "Teacher Education"; (3)"Programs"; (4) "Curriculum"; (5)…

This book was written for practicing primary (elementary) school teachers and for anyone concerned with inservice or preservice science teacher education. The overall purpose of the book is to identify ways in which ideas about electricity and simple circuits can be taught effectively in primary school classrooms. This book is based on in-depth…

Prospective teachers can examine documentary websites known as "snapshots of practice" in an on-line "Gallery of Teaching and Learning" http://gallery.carnegiefoundation.org). Developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Gallery of Teaching and Learning includes a wide variety of web-based "snapshots" developed by…

This report presents a new synthesis of statistical indicators and research findings on the quality of science and mathematics education in the United States. In more detail than any other report, it addresses the progress made toward the U.S. national goal of ranking first in the world in mathematics and science by the year 2000. It draws on…

A diversity of themes are addressed in the papers presented in this document; they include new topic areas as well as concerns that have been cited in previous issues. The papers focus on such topics as: (1) problem solving; (2) cognition; (3) the learning environment; (4) energy education; (5) the use of diagrams; (6) scientific methodology; (7)…

This document contains the abstracts of most of the papers, symposia and poster sessions presented at the 61st Annual Conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). Subject areas addressed include: teacher preparation, science, technology and society; classroom research; elementary science; process skills;…

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is helping develop a system of state-by-state and national indicators of the condition of science and mathematics education in an effort to assist local, state, and national policymakers in making informed decisions. The report, "State Indicators of Science and Mathematics…