The observational data from a project which was designed to implement and monitor the effects of an inservice program in facilitating a non-sexist approach to the teaching of science in Australian primary schools are reported in this paper. Descriptions and analyses are provided both of the children's participation in activity-centered lessons on…

The outcomes of two studies reported here indicate that the teacher inservice workshops, combined with activity-based science lessons, affected students' attitudes and perceptions about electricity. Australian and U.S. studies produced different patterns and are explored and explained in the paper. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/PR)

Writing/drawing activities, picture quizzes, and questionnaires of elementary school children in England and Australia found that the high profile of design and make in the England and Wales Technology National Curriculum was reflected by children's emphasis on model-making, an aspect generally ignored by Australian children. (34 references)…

Examines some of the problems in interpreting data from attitude measures when the dimensionality of the instrument and sources of heterogeneity in the population are ignored. Illustrates this point by describing the development of an instrument designed to measure children's attitude toward science-related activities. (TW)

This report documents the development, implementation, and evaluation of an inservice program designed to facilitate a non-sexist approach to the teaching of science in primary schools. Ten matched pairs of teachers were selected on the basis of a survey questionnaire to participate in the study. Teachers were given help in the teaching of…

Twenty teachers were selected to teach 20 elementary classes a science lesson featuring laboratory experience in small groups. Ten teachers were alerted to the possibilities of sexism in the physical sciences. Results indicated girls in mixed-sex work groups participate less when the teacher is less aware of sexism problems. (Author/CH)

Collected data from primary school children (n=1,059) to examine choice of drawings to communicate their understanding of technology. Reports that children hold a wide range of ideas about technology and although overall the drawings reflected this, sometimes they did not reveal the depth or breadth of an individual child's understanding. Contains…