Given the high probability of national and federal research laboratories continuing to sponsor science education partnerships between their staff and classroom science teachers and the dearth of research in this area, this study set out to delineate best practices associated with such partnerships for the purpose of increasing the effectiveness...
The purpose of this study is to examine the events and activities that
triggered strategic and large-scale changes in four community college based
Small Business Development Centers. A review of the literature in
organizational theory and community college education was used to form
an integrated conceptual scheme which could be...
Current reforms in science education advocate instruction which capitalizes on broad,
integrative understandings of a few underlying concepts. Such recommendations imply
that science teachers already hold integrated conceptualizations and will use such
understandings to guide practice. However, little research exists which delineates the
global content understandings of biology teachers (herein...
This study examined the dynamics of student, teaching assistant (TA), and faculty learning in relationship to implementation of a genetic technologies project in a university introductory biology course. Research focused on the types of learning that occurred and the various factors impacting that learning. Study participants included 25 undergraduate non-science...
Current reforms emphasize the development of scientific literacy as the
principal goal of science education. The nature of science is considered a critical
component of scientific literacy and is assumed to be an important factor in decision
making on science and technology based issues. However, little research exists that
delineates...
A large body of research has examined how children enter the science classroom
with previously formed ideas about the content they will learn. These ideas influence how
the child interprets instruction. This study reversed the investigative focus by exploring
how children's ideas in science influence teaching. Specifically, the study examined...
This study assessed the influence of three history of science (HOS) courses on college students and preservice science teachers' conceptions of the nature of science (NOS), and examined whether participants who entered the investigated HOS courses with a conceptual framework consistent with current NOS views achieved more elaborate NOS understandings....
This study explored scientists' epistemological views of science and compared
views based upon scientists' discipline area and primary investigative approach.
Participants were 24 scientists, averaging 25 years research experience, representing four discipline areas: life science (10), Earth and space science (5), physics (5), chemistry (5); and four investigative approaches: experimental...