To understand the impact of all of the various science and mathematics improvement initiatives and to make them more effective in the future, it is important to be able to monitor the condition of science and mathematics education in the schools. This report presents a review of the information and data currently available; it is a preliminary…

Many educators have long assumed that reading ability is directly related to science achievement, that reading plays a major role in science instruction, and that direct instruction on science reading skills would improve science achievement. The pilot study reported here investigated whether an instructional strategy could be designed to overcome…

A science process skill project was developed to help elementary teachers meet competency standards in New Mexico for teaching the process approach in their science classes. This document consists of the inservice workshop kit manual that could be used by a teacher to provide an inservice program to a small group of other teachers. This manual…

The impact of cultural background on science learning is explored in this compilation of papers and reports from an inter-American Seminar on science education. For the purposes of enriching science program planning, teacher education, research, and practice in the schools, varying ideas are offered on the effects of cultural background on science…

Suggestions for instructional improvement are offered for science teachers in this compilation of research summaries on specific areas of science education. This series includes the articles: (1) "Improving Students' Understanding of the Nature of Science" (discussing the relationship between teachers and students conceptions of science…

Canada is one of nearly 40 countries involved in the Second International Science Study (SISS). The Ontario Ministry of Education used the data generated in the study as a vehicle for assessing science education in the province, and comparing the province to the rest of Canada. Each chapter of this report contains a non-technical summary of…

This is a checklist for use by science coordinators, school principals, science supervisors, and teachers in identifying strengths and weaknesses of science programs in grades seven through eight. It can also be used by science coordinators during school visits. This guide contains space for recording information concerning: school name and…

Questionnaires with over 400 items were administered to key teachers of the 1982 Search for Excellence in Science Education programs. It was hoped to compare the characteristics of teachers of exemplary programs with those possessed by teachers in general. Results are presented under the following headings: (1) qualifications of science teachers;…

In order to interest women and minorities in science and teaching, a proposal by the Science Academy of Austin, Texas specifically recommended recruiting high school minority and female students as future science teachers, providing elementary students with opportunities to experience science, and increasing the number of women and minorities in…

Designed to assist science educators in improving inservice teacher education, this yearbook contains resources and ideas addressing the application of recent research into a format suitable for practitioners. The eight chapters comprising the document deal with: (1) meeting the needs of science teachers for continuing education; (2) guidelines…

It is often stated that science does not have a central place in the elementary school curriculum, unlike other subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. In response to this concern, a project in Indiana is underway to develop a variety of approaches which integrate new materials, methods, and modes of teaching into the elementary school…

Meta-Analysis procedures were employed to integrate existing science education research findings on the effectiveness of teaching strategy analysis training to: (1) determine overall magnitude of effect that can be expected from such training; (2) determine and compare relative magnitude of effects attributable to various approaches to such…

Recounts the recommendations of the report of the Carnegie Forum's Task Force on Teaching as a Profession. Explains the efforts of the National Science Teachers Association in supporting the report. Argues for quality and equality in education for all Americans. (TW)

The phenomenal growth of science and technology in the past decade has made science teaching more important, and at the same time more difficult. An awareness of these changes has caused an unprecedented public support for sound science programs in the schools. A good science program makes effective use of equipment and materials in teaching basic…

This issue contains a summary of research in science education for the year 1977. The review is organized into four major parts. These are the overview, survey research, experimental research and conclusions. (HM)