Investigates effects of method of presentation and structure on secondary student's acquisition of knowledge and psychomotor skills in teaching use of the compound microscope. Psychomotor skills and knowledge acquisitions were both found to be directly related to high structure and separated presentations. (SL)

Showed that there were significant differences between adolescent, teacher, and parent attitudes toward marijuana, police, school, babies, teachers, and cigarettes in two seventh-grade Life Science classes. No significant differences were found between males and females on these topics. (MLH)

Advocates removing the taboo regarding anthropomorphism and teleology in biology education. Argues that for high school students, accepting such formulations does not necessarily imply anthropomorphic or teleological reasoning. Further, living organisms seem goal-oriented because of their adaptation for survival. Concludes with the argument that…

Falk and Dierking's Contextual Model of Learning was used as a theoretical construct for investigating learning within a free-choice setting. A review of previous research identified key variables fundamental to free-choice science learning. The study sought to answer two questions: (1) How do specific independent variables individually contribute…

Determined that graphic organizers are effective in increasing the achievement of sixth-grade (N=235) and seventh-grade (N=220) middle school students who used the organizers. Reasons why the graphic organizer enhances student learning and is an effective and practical teaching strategy are also discussed. (JN)

Reports on a comprehensive, longitudinal investigation examining influences on commitment to science and achievement in science among adolescent students (N=821). Findings show that science attitude and achievement motivation declined throughout the year, life science achievement increased, and differences in achievement motivation occurred…

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)

Ninety-three secondary school biology textbooks, identified in the appendix bibliography, were analyzed to determine the extent of emphasis of 44 topics concerned with the study of evolution. (HM)

Discusses three prospective elementary teachers' conceptions of teaching science and selected portions of their knowledge base in life science. Explores how these teachers' conceptions, along with their teaching actions, developed during the course of a teacher-education program. Contains 21 references. (Author/WRM)

Discusses three prospective secondary biology teachers' conceptions of teaching science and selected portions of their knowledge base in biology. Explores how these teachers' conceptions, along with their teaching actions, developed during the course of a teacher-education program. Contains 31 references. (Author/WRM)

This essay is the third in a series on innovators in the teaching of elementary-school science. Palmer's ideas and work on nature study and their relevance to children's education are described. His resume and a list of his publications are also included. (HM)

Describes the adaptation process involved in modifying the outdoor biology instructional strategies (OBIS) project to the local environment and educational system in Israel. (HM)

Contains the fourteenth installment in the series of annual Summaries of Research in Science Education. The review is organized around specific disciplines at specific grade levels. Topics without specific disciplines or age levels and those that cut across these categories have been given separate headings. (ML)