In a world of burgeoning societal issues, future scientists must be equipped to work interdisciplinarily to address real-world problems. To train undergraduate students toward this end, practitioners must also have quality assessment tools to measure students' ability to think within an interdisciplinary system. There is, however, a dearth of…

The purpose of this study was to examine students understandings about nature of science (NOS) and their arguments in context of controversial socio-scientific issue (SSI). A total of 74 11th graders in six schools in Saudi Arabia participated in the study. The instrument used was a questionnaire consisting of four scenarios addressing SSI about…

Despite the belief that emotions are important in the learning process, research in the area of emotions and learning, especially in science, is scant. Modelling and SSI argumentation have shared with respect to the emphasis in recent science standards reports as core scientific practices that need to be part of science teaching and learning. Even…

A recent statewide survey shows that regardless of location, income, education, or gender, Arizonans are convinced that science and technology will deliver on high-paying jobs, personal benefits, and solutions to environmental and social problems. The March 2006 responses to a statewide representative telephone survey show that a majority of…

This document presents the development of an instrument designed to assess student attitudes toward science and technology, and their understanding of certain social issues surrounding science and technology. The document contains two parts. Part 1, the Description of the Project, includes the following sections: (1) "The Project in…

Provides a synopsis of information about the current crises in American agriculture. Addresses national farm policy, political activities, surplus crops, subsidy programs, the loss of smaller family-operated farms, and farm markets. Includes an opinion instrument that invites the reader to respond to the issues. (TW)