In this study, learners worked with a simulation of harmonic oscillation. Two supportive measures were introduced: model progression and assignments. In model progression, the model underlying the simulation is not offered in its full complexity from the start, but variables are gradually introduced. Assignments are small exercises that help the…

The objective of the research is to learn if learning level of the university students in redox subject of chemistry education change when they use traditional learning method and computer supported method, and to compare these two methods by measuring their success through pre- test and final test. And also some factors that may affect the…

This study attempts to determine whether there exists a negative interconnection between the creative and testable nature-of-science (NOS) conceptions in college students' conceptual ecology by investigating, through a pair of IHV-assisted teaching experiments, the effect of raising the status of each NOS conception in students' conceptual ecology…

Examines congruence between science content structure of instructional materials and students' structural representations before and after science instruction. Eighth-grade science students (N=30) were given concept-structuring tasks before and after studying instructional materials to assess changes in student structural representations.…

At Texas A&M University, a diagnostic pretesting system has been developed for use in the Freshman Biology Program. The system provides a profile of student competency levels for students, instructors, and the course coordinator that indicates where the curriculum of methods needs to be altered, and identifies students who need remedial help.…

Describes a study of undergraduates at Iowa State University that tested the effectiveness of a computer simulation of electric circuits used in combination with a conceptual change approach to science instruction. Erroneous preconceptions of scientific concepts are discussed, and the use of traditional text is compared with conceptual change…

Describes the use of concept mapping (CM) in design, instruction, and assessment related to microbiology lessons prepared for high school students in Israel. Indicates that students utilizing CM displayed an overall, higher achievement gain than students in traditional classes. Recognizes that some teachers did not thoroughly exploit the potential…

Effects of animated presentations and practice were studied in a computer-based science lesson involving 55 fourth graders and 64 fifth graders. Results suggest that animated graphics can promote learning, and they demonstrate successful application of interactive graphics in the design of cognitively based practice activities. (SLD)

Design-Based Science (DBS) is a pedagogy in which the goal of designing an artifact contextualizes all curricular activities. Design is viewed as a vehicle through which scientific knowledge and real-world problem-solving skills can be constructed. Following Anderson and Hogan's (1999) call to document the design of new science pedagogies, this…

An appropriate understanding of the nature of the scientific enterprise (NOSE) is a key element of scientific literacy and can arguably be influenced through an exploration of the history of science. An elective, undergraduate History of Science course was organized in the form of small-group discussion-based inquiries into the history of science…

A formative assessment pretest was administered to undergraduate students at the beginning of a science course in order to find out their prior knowledge, misconceptions and learning difficulties on the topic of the human respiratory system and energy issues. Those findings could provide their instructors with the valuable information required in…

The 338 14-year-olds who participated in a study to determine effects of pictures on readability of science topics completed a cloze test during the study and an objective items recognition test afterwards. Posttest scores showed pictures made topic easier to remember although they had little effect on cloze test results. (MBR)

Describes a study that explored the effects of teacher-centered versus student-centered multimedia computer-assisted instruction on the science achievements of tenth-grade students in Taiwan. Results of analysis of covariance on pretests-posttest scores showed the teacher-centered approach was more effective in promoting students' science…

Describes study that was conducted to examine the effects of animation and practice on factual and application learning in elementary science computer-based instruction (CBI). The extent to which animation and practice promoted near and far transfer of learning outcomes is explored, and effects on processing time are examined. (31 references) LRW)

Describes a study of eighth-grade students that investigated the impact of computer simulations on students' ability to generalize scientific concepts from classroom to naturally occurring problems. A curriculum for teaching thermodynamics that was reformulated to emphasize integration of understanding is described, and student reactions are…