Although a great deal of attention since the late 1970s has been given to the masculine construction and practice of science, this critique has not completely entered the realm of school science. To the extent that it has, it has largely been deployed to depict the disadvantage that female students find themselves at as they negotiate within this…

In this paper, two studies are discussed--one conducted with seventh-grade science students and the other with undergraduate pre-service elementary teachers--using model-centered science curricula and instruction. In both studies, these students experienced model-centered teaching within a 12-14 week curricula in which they used, created and…

Uses structural linguistics to offer an impartial frame of reference to analyze science education in the non-Western world. Outlines the associative relation proposed by Saussure and investigates how it works in science education. Examines the problems peculiar to science education in Japan and argues that science education should be identified…

Students' conceptions of models and how models function in science were assessed by administering a clinical interview about models to a group of mixed-ability seventh and honors eleventh grade students. Students' preconceptions about models, themes that appeared regularly during interviews, differences of themes between the two groups, and the…

A model of the character and mechanism for knowledge restructuring is presented and a model of educational practice designed to facilitate this form of restructuring is described. A broadened and integrated view of assessment and instruction called a portfolio culture, central to the educational model, is discussed. (KR)

Presented is an asymptotic approach to "authentic" science. Discussed are the following aspects of science: personal science, private science, public science, historical science, societal science, technological science, and the aims of science. (KR)

Rebuts the arguments made by Suchting criticizing constructivism. (MDH)

Describes a study that investigated whether scientific and nonscientific understandings in the same content area are linked. Finds that students' (n=107) explanations indicate that they were using an "if-then" type of reasoning which linked scientific and nonscientific conceptions. Contains 39 references. (Author/WRM)

Examines the role of empirical evidence in the interpretation of psychological and epistemological aspects of Piagetian theory. Concludes that Galileo's method of idealization has important implications for the construction of a neo-Piagetian epistemological theory. Contains 35 references. (Author/WRM)

Reviews three books that argue that science education should reflect global scientific contributions, use multicultural and feminist perspectives, and be grounded in everyday life experiences with science. Suggests questions of policy and practice in moving from theory to implementation of a more equitable, socially responsible science education.…

Describes a high school biology curriculum designed to give students opportunities to learn about genetic inquiry in part by providing them with authentic experiences doing inquiry in the discipline. (Contains 29 references.) (Author/WRM)

Describes a study of a range of challenging activities centered on evaporation and condensation done with elementary school children. Analyzes children's explanations in light of the existing literature. Finds that older children display a surer sense of ontological categories, greater epistemological sophistication, greater precision in language…

Describes children's conceptions of the structure and function of the human digestive system based on an investigation carried out with children aged 4-10 (n=45). Finds that children possess biological knowledge as an independent knowledge domain from the age of four. Discusses acquisition of and barriers to scientific concepts related to human…

Identifies four different types of science stories: (1) heroic; (2) discovery; (3) declarative; and (4) politically correct. Examines the philosophical assumptions that underpin heroic science stories. Considers the implications of these stories in the science classroom. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Reports on the application of Gowin's epistemology to examples from geological inquiry which yield criteria of excellence responsive to the demands characteristic of geological problems. Supporting this approach is a case study about how geologists apply analogies. Contains 33 references. (DDR)