Although participation in citizen science can improve cognitive and affective learning outcomes, many citizen science projects exhibit low retention rates. By gaining an understanding of forms of engagement, reasons for ongoing participation, and the impact of project design on participant motivation and engagement, we can help keep people…

Recent efforts in the science education community have highlighted the need to integrate research and theory from science communication research into more general science education scholarship. These synthesized research perspectives are relatively novel but serve an important need to better understand the impacts that the advent of rapidly…

Given the current striving for "sustainability" and the corresponding paradigms shift in science, technology, R&D, environment perception, economy and politics; e.g., from unlimited growth-to-sustainable development, correction-to-prevention and passive consumption of "goods", culture and education--to active participation,…

Today's society is continuously coping with sustainability-related complex issues in the Science-Technology-Environment-Society (STES) interfaces. In those contexts, the need and relevance of the development of students' higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) such as question-asking, critical-thinking, problem-solving and decision-making…

(PR)

Representative samples of 10-, 14-, and 17-year-old Israeli students, about 2,000 in each, responded to background questionnaires and a battery of tests and scales concerning their conceptions of the nature of science and views about the scientific enterprise. A comparison is made between Israeli, British, and U.S. students. (LZ)

Study of (n=78) elementary science teachers involved in in-depth, longitudinal inservice programs found that appropriately designed training courses did induce a shift in Science-Technology-Society (STS) views, attitudes, and literacy. (25 references) (Author/MKR)

This study examined 12th-grade biology students' opinions and beliefs on the desirability of the use and/or development of various biotechnologies. Describes the development of and presents results from the three questionnaires employed in the study. Includes a listing of the 15 biotechnology topics investigated in the study. (ML)

Described is the design and evaluation of a learning unit which includes the basics of computerized feedback control. Included are sample topics, descriptions of the achievement measures, and conclusions of the study. (CW)

Describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a module called "Energy and the Human Being" within the framework of a program aimed at non-science-oriented students in senior high schools in Israel. Finds that students' attitudes toward science were positive and their understanding of the scientific concepts involved was…

Describes a specially designed preparatory course in science and mathematics for relatively "unprepared" adult students in Israel. Compares the achievements of these students with the achievements of those identified as "prepared" according to their formal education and qualifications. (TW)

Presents a view of future engineering education as perceived by the Technion faculty group on the basis of their own analysis and the insights gathered from workshop discussions. Contrasts basic and specialized education. Reviews the technologies and skills of the future engineer. Gives an overview of curriculum requirements. (CW)

Reports on a study of the cognitive preferences of twelfth grade students in Israel. Results indicated that, during the last ten years, Israeli students have become more oriented toward application. (TW)

Investigated were gender-related differences in the relationship between the development of formal reasoning skills and learning interests during the early adolescent stage. Results indicated that adolescent boys appeared to develop patterns of formal reasoning before their female classmates. Differences in subject preferences were also found. (CW)

Presents the STS (science/technology/society) outlook profiles of 546 eleventh graders from Israeli high schools within the existing science, nonscience, and technological tracks in terms of cognition, behavior, and literacy. Findings indicate significant differences between the profiles for students regarding behavior and literacy but not for…