Presents race concept as an example of how social issues are underemphasized in college science education. Reviews history of the race concept and reports on current status of the concept in textbooks and among college faculty members. Given specific stipulations, proposes continued use of the race concept for some infrahuman species, while…

Discusses misconceptions and outdated models appearing in biology textbooks for concepts involving bioenergetics and chemical reactions; adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the energy currency of cells; the myth of high energy phosphate bonds; structural properties of ATP; ATP production from respiration and fermentation; ATP as an energy storage…

Analogies are considered an effective method for providing a bridge between unfamiliar concepts and knowledge that students already have. This paper reports a critical analysis of analogies found in chemistry textbooks used by Australian senior high school students and is presented in three sections. The first section of the paper presents the…

This reference is intended for teachers who are responsible for selecting textbooks for biology or life science courses. The publication provides reviewers with a compilation of 10 biology and 7 life science textbook reviews. Using this document as a resource, teachers can save valuable time by reducing the number of books they review and pilot…

Presents task analysis of the laboratory inquiries of the BSCS Yellow Version. Three important deficiencies are identified: (1) Students do not identify and formulate problems; (2) Students get little chance to conduct investigations; and (3) Post-laboratory discussions are not indicated. (MA)

Reviews recent research addressing the problem of matching students' cognitive levels to science textbooks. Suggests that most texts are written above the level of the students for whom they are written. Promotes experiential learning at the middle level and concentration on "right thinking" rather than on "right answers." (CW)

Topics include: (1) the content, style, and level of physics' textbooks; (2) suggestions for in-class use; and (3) recommendations for upgrading current texts. (SK)

The purpose of this study was to determine which magnet concepts were found in various science textbook series, how the concepts were presented, and to identify potential misconceptions related to magnets. Magnet concepts presented as prose, illustration, and/or laboratory activities are identified and analyzed. (KR)

The results of an in-depth analysis of the lab activities found in two popular high school biology textbooks are presented. Activities were rated against 24 task categories that parallel skills or behaviors which reflect scientific inquiry, problem-solving skills, manipulative skills, and observational skills. (25 references) (KR)

Linguistic content analysis, method of encoding textual data by categorizing key words and identifying relationships, was developed to assess degree to which science was portrayed as process of inquiry within high school biology textbook series. The frequency of science as a process of inquiry increased from 1956 to 1965, then showed a pattern of…

Two different concepts of STS--the emerging academic discipline of Science and Technology Studies and the social movement Science, Technology and Society--are explored through analysis of two textbooks from non-English-speaking countries. Each textbook represents one of the two STS concepts. Discussion of text organization is augmented by complete…

The origins of inquiry activities are discussed in this historical review and assessment of science textbooks. Approximately 80 texts (dated from 1822 to 1910) were analyzed specifically for inquiry teaching strategies. No significant patterns were detected, either by subject or time, which could support an identifiable birth of inquiry. After…

Background, rationale, and promising practices for teaching about science-related social issues in the science and social studies classroom are presented. Material is divided into five sections, each introduced with a topical question. The first section considers the challenges associated with the pervasive influences of science and technology in…

In evaluating whether the laboratory guides for Project Physics and for PSSC are consistent with the goals of their designers in demonstrating the interplay between experiment and theory in the development of physics, a system was developed for analyzing physics laboratory investigations, and the laboratory activities in the "PSSC Physics…

Lists polymer chemistry topics and depth of topics to be covered in general chemistry courses. Also lists topics using polymers as tools for delivering necessary concepts, discussing 11 topic areas. List of readings, information on textbook evaluation, and illustrative examination questions are included. (JN)