This digest identifies characteristics of successful higher education programs in environmental studies and trends in environmental studies programs and courses. Characteristics of programs that have continued for the past two decades are listed. Some of the variables associated with programs that have not continued are identified. Recent trends…

This digest discusses the inclusion of "sustainability" concept in environmental education. Topics included are: (1) definiton of sustainability; (2) inclusion of the concept in the curriculum using interdisciplinary approaches; and (3) a list of instructional materials containing the concept at the elementary, secondary, and college…

Technology is more than applied science. It is the processes and products by which humans have coped with and changed their environment throughout history. People have always lived and worked in a "technological society." Never before, however, has technological change been so rapid or broad in scope. The concept of an "educated…

Lists Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) resources that will help bring science, technology, and society (STS) into the classroom. The annotated bibliography of seven references includes Faith Hickman's framework for curriculum reform, which compares the present trend of teaching STS-related social problems with historical trends. (LS)

The ability to think critically is essential if individuals are to live, work, and function effectively in a current and changing society. As adults, students will be living in a complex world and in a democracy where both individual and collective actions will require effective selection, processing, and use of information. National, state…

Environmentalism has become a part of the culture, and environmentalists now constitute a major social movement. The solutions to many current environmental problems require a local or national response, but solutions to other problems will require a global response. Major United Nations reports have recognized that solving global environmental…

The current trend to include the relationships of science and technology to human societies in the social studies curriculum is the focus of this ERIC Digest. The Digest discusses: (1) major themes in education on science/technology/society (STS); (2) the rationale for emphasizing STS in the social studies; and (3) how to include STS in the…

This digest reviews information in the science education literature on teaching about societal issues in science classes. Reasons for including a discussion of social issues in science classrooms are given, and instructional approaches for teaching about science and society are presented. Several Internet resources related to teaching about…

Many teachers accept science literacy as an important goal for K-12 education; however, those without a strong background in science, mathematics, and technology may be unsure of how to teach important ideas from these fields to their students. As part of its comprehensive effort to reform K-12 education, Project 2061 of the American Association…

Technology education (TE) is a general education program intended to teach students about technological concepts, processes, materials, and systems as well as the impact of technology in society. Its goal is to develop technologically literate people. Technology education can be taught as a separate course or curriculum, or it can be infused in…

Provides and annotated bibliography of items from the ERIC database dealing with technological advances in history and social studies instruction. Includes items that address computer-assisted instruction, geography software, computer simulation, the science, technology, and society movement, and economics instruction. Explains how to obtain ERIC…

This yearbook of the Association for the Education of Teachers in Science (AETS) is designed to give a perspective on rural science education. It is presented in a sequence which leads from the definition and philosophy of rural science education, to the status of rural science education, research implications, the integration of science within…

Charting the curricular institutionalization of environmental education, particularly as it seeks to establish an appropriate niche in the K-12 curriculum, was the focus of a recent symposium held at the annual conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education in October, 1987. Contained in this document are the papers…

A review of representative instructional strategies and programs which focus on Science-Technology-Society (STS) themes is presented in this digest. A rationale and specific recommendations for the inclusion of an STS component in the science curriculum are offered. The options which exist for instruction of STS themes are identified and examples…

This digest was prepared to provide some information about activities aimed at improving the science curriculum, a task that is neither easy nor simple. Six identifiable emphases are identified including: inquiry teaching; science, technology, and society; conceptual change; thematic science teaching; The Scope, Sequence, and Coordination project…