The purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensions of the university students' perceptions of their science classes and whether or not the students' perceptions differ significantly as regards to the gender and grade level in six main categories namely; (1) pedagogical strategies, (2) faculty interest in teaching, (3) students interest…

Findings from a study, based on observation of dyadic teacher-student interaction in high school science classes, indicate that teachers of all levels of experience tend to interact more with male students than female students, and both newly prepared and experienced teachers lack the skills needed to alter their gender-biased behaviors. (IAH)

Discusses results obtained through interviews with university science teachers with regard to their philosophies and practices in college science classrooms. Data revealed that teachers are not satisfied with all aspects of their teaching; however, they are not sure how to make changes that would maximize student learning. (ZWH)

Describes the first year of a collaboration between faculty in an urban elementary school and university faculty in a nearby college of education. Partnership efforts to enhance the learning of mathematics and science by students while providing quality field experience for preservice teachers are discussed. (SLD)

Explains that many preconceptions and misconceptions ethnically different children bring to science instruction originate in their particular cultural heritage. In many cases these conceptions inhibit or interfere with the learning of scientific concepts. It is advised to impart to teachers with information about this source of difficulties in…

Investigates teaching propositional logic (hypothesis testing and scientific reasoning) to preservice teachers enrolled in an elementary science method course (n=48). Results indicate that students scored higher on a posttest of the Propositional Logic Test than on the pretest. Authors conclude that even a brief intervention in logic can improve…

This interpretive case study describes a collaborative project involving a physics professor and a science educator. We report what was learned about factors that influenced the professor's development of teaching strategies, alternative to lecture, that were intended to promote prospective teachers' meaningful learning and their use of canonical…

This study focused on teachers' academic preparation for teaching science and mathematics, as measured by the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) which collected data for a nationally representative sample of 26,435 8th-grade students clustered within 1,052 schools. The relationship between teachers' academic preparation, their…

This paper looks at the Teacher Education Equity Project, which was designed to bring gender equity to teacher education. Carried out from 1993 to 1996, the project worked with 61 teachers in 27 states who taught methods courses in mathematics, science, and technology to help them teach their preservice students about gender equity. The project…

This monograph reports on the Planning Meeting of the Commonwealth Project on Improving the Quality of Science and Mathematics Education at the Basic Level which focused on the role of higher education. The purpose of the meeting was to make recommendations for improving the preparation and training of science and mathematics teachers for the…

A university and participating school districts cooperatively developed a 15-month graduate program to certify secondary mathematics and science teachers. A study of the program's instructional model examined three areas: whether knowledge of instructional variables related to occurrence of the variables during classroom instruction by teaching…

This report tells the stories of 44 rural science and mathematics teachers who have been initiating and leading change in their classrooms and communities. Each has participated in the Science and Mathematics Academies for Rural Teachers (SMART), which: (1) recognizes and rewards outstanding science and mathematics teachers in small rural schools…

In this study, American pre-service teachers' responses on Kimball's Nature of Science Survey (NOSS) were used as a basis for analyzing the sense of "the nature of science" held by a group of Nigerian pre-service science teachers. In comparing the responses it was apparent that the Nigerian students were much more inclined to see science…

A group of scientists and science educators at Washington State University has developed and pilot tested an integrated physical science program designed for preservice elementary school teachers. This document includes the syllabus and class materials for the Astronomy block of the physical science courses developed by the group. Included are…

A group of scientists and science educators has developed and pilot tested an integrated physical science program designed for preservice elementary school teachers. This document includes the syllabus and class materials for the Physics block of the physical science courses developed by the group. Included are diagrams, lecture notes, homework…