Why and under what conditions might students value their science learning? To find out, the authors observed approximately 400 science classes. They found that although several teachers were amazingly adept at regularly promoting the value of science, many others missed out on important opportunities to promote the value of science. The authors…

The purpose of this study was to find out how the scientific literacy themes are represented in the current Zambian high school chemistry syllabus, textbooks and grade twelve chemistry examination papers in an attempt to find out whether or not the chemistry course has adequate potential to contribute to the preparation of scientifically literate…

The proliferation of bioinformatics in modern biology marks a modern revolution in science that promises to influence science education at all levels. This study analyzed secondary school science standards of 49 U.S. states (Iowa has no science framework) and the District of Columbia for content related to bioinformatics. The bioinformatics…

Features acid tests for determining whether jewelry is "real" gold or simply gold-plated. Describes the carat system of denoting gold content and explains how alloys are used to create various shades of gold jewelry. Addresses the question of whether gold jewelry can turn a wearer's skin green by considering various oxidation reactions.…

Explores the prevalence of ideas among 16 to 19 year-old students about the application of the rapidly expanding technology of genetic engineering to food production. Findings suggest that more females were cautious about these foodstuffs than were males. Contains 20 references. (DDR)

More than half of the high school students in the United States are in general and vocational programs. Students who complete vocational programs, however, score significantly lower on science achievement tests than do students in the academic curriculum nationwide. As work in business and industry becomes more technologically based, the…

Argues that a mandate of four years of advanced high school mathematics and science for students of average or above-average ability is a sound idea of great benefit to the student, the nation, and society as a whole. (DDR)

This paper presents an argument in support of "training little scientists" based on the requirements of participation in a media-laden, democratic society fraught with scientific claims and counterclaims. This leads to a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of various approaches to science education, including how they play out in practice.…

Describes a three-week environmental minicourse in a general chemistry class. The minicourse consisted of two distinct phases, a one-week introduction to environmental chemistry and a two-week project involving a particular environmental problem. (PR)

This resource material is intended to assist teachers in translating the intentions of the Science 14/24 program into classroom practice. The Science 14/24 program was designed to develop scientific literacy and stress interactions among science, technology, and society. The program was designed for students enrolled in the General High School…

The Science/Technology/Society (STS) theme describes a contemporary trend in education which focuses on the teaching of issues such as air quality, nuclear power, land use, and water resources but justification for including STS in the high school core curriculum has a precedence based on historical connections among science, technology, and…

Student knowledge about environmental issues related to energy and pollution was analyzed in a national probability sample of high school seniors. Parental level of education, quantity of high school science courses, and gender were all significantly related to students' knowledge levels. Bias in favor of males remained even when the number of…

This report discusses how computers are being used in high school science classrooms. For this report, four high school science teachers were interviewed. The approach to science instruction described in these four interviews deals with the areas of scientific and technological literacy, making science learning fun and attractive, and stimulating…

Science teachers and teacher educators need to reexamine the geoscience content in their courses. Public ignorance about science, in general, and about key concepts of the geological sciences, in particular, inhibits effective action on problems relating to environmental change, land utilization, hazard mitigation, construction safety, cost…

This report is one of a series produced by the National Center for Improving Science Education. The Center synthesizes and translates the findings, recommendations, and perspectives embodied in recent and forthcoming studies and reports in order to develop practical resources for policymakers and practitioners. Toward achieving the High School…