The lessons of 11 seventh-grade life science teachers were observed to determine the extent to which they made linkages between science content and its societal, reasoning, historical, or attitudinal implications. Results indicate a gap between scientific literacy as a normative goal of science instruction and current teaching practice. (TJH)

Reported are the differences in the understanding of concepts involved in photosynthesis and its role in ecology between students who had studied advanced biology and those who had not. Reports that the less experienced students had a poorer understanding of autotrophic respiration and energy aspects of photosynthesis. (CW)

Graduate students evaluated the use of videotape recordings of lectures on chromosome configurations in a cytogenetics course. Ninety-two percent of the students indicated that videotaping was worthwhile. Advantages for using the videotaped cytogenetics lectures are presented. (MDH)

Reports results on an analysis of five seventh grade life science textbooks for sexist language, images, and curricular content. Authors conclude that sexist language and images exist in these textbooks. The content of all of the books contained a relatively low level of integration of achievements of women scientists and a lack of information…

A survey of 32 land-grant institutions was conducted to determine structure, course requirements, needs, and future directions of 4-year turfgrass management programs in the United States. Results related to course selection, limiting factors to the program's success, and future challenges are reported. (MDH)

Montana State University conducted a voluntary, private well water test program (n=3400) to direct public attention to water quality education. Eighty-four percent of the respondents to an impact assessment questionnaire indicated that the program was moderately to very effective. Other results involved user awareness and understanding, and…

Farmer-scientist focus sessions represent a means by which participants exchange ideas for action, identify researchable topics, and enhance long-term farmer-scientist team work. Three examples involving controlling weeds, disposal of cull onion, and food safety concerns are described that illustrate the types of issues treated, the format, and…

Students' conceptions about "microbes" tend to condition their understanding of biotechnology. Explores connections between the status given to diseases, a hygiene-oriented culture, layman's versus school knowledge, personal experience, socio-cultural mediation, linguistic confusions, and students' conceptions. (Contains 21 references.)…

Computer-based learning (CBL) is well established and its benefits are widely reported. It has found considerable utility in recent years with the explosion in interest in the use of the Web as a knowledge medium. Many online courses, however, consist merely of a series of textual notes and pictures with little navigational information or choice.…

As pressures on resources are growing and some question the value and types of final year research work for students in the biosciences and other disciplines, it is important to be well informed about student expectations of their project. In this case study within Biomolecular Sciences, questionnaires were used to compare staff and student…

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate relationships between trends in federal funding of biomedical-behavioral research in universities and concurrent financial and educational changes in these institutions from FY 1964 through FY 1974. More detailed knowledge of these interrelationships should provide guidance to federal agencies…

The effects of evolving federal research policies and programs on nongovernmental academic medical centers are examined. Medical schools, teaching hospitals, and research institutes are included. The major problem of analysis in this report is to sort out the effects of federally-supported biomedical research from other influences on academic…

Examines various types of problems that researchers have used to demonstrate problem solving. Focuses on genetics problems. Discusses classes of learning outcomes, conceptual knowledge gains, content-independent heuristics, content-specific procedures, understanding the nature of science and a typology of genetics problems. (CW)

Presents a statistical analysis of the 1980 Association of Chairmen of Departments of Physiology, on which 94 medical and 4 non-medical physiology departments responded. (CS)

Presented is a brief review of the historical importance and knowledge of pneumonia which emphasizes the importance of type transformation. The results of a survey of textbook coverage of this topic are given. The significance of type transformations are discussed. (CW)