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In Australia, and internationally, integration is a widely promoted middle school curriculum reform strategy. Integration is claimed to engage students by providing opportunities to work on a few cross-disciplinary objectives, to apply knowledge across the subject boundaries and to work on tasks with meaning and relevance. While these curriculum goals enjoy a certain popularity among middle school reformers and curriculum integration adherents, in practice, the prevalence of integration is patchy and provisional. In this article, we (re) examine two of our studies of middle school integration over the past decade to explore the reasons for this apparent disparity between the rhetoric and the reality. In our re-search for integration, we look back at our data to identify enabling and inhibiting conditions for curriculum reform and develop a list of key program characteristics. Finally, we look forward, drawing on the notion of institutional resilience to speculate on the reasons why some middle school programs seem to flourish while others wither. (Contains 2 tables.) [An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2005 annual conference of the Australasian Science Education Research Association, Hamilton, July.]

Internationally there is concern that many science teachers do not address socioscientific issues (SSI) in their classrooms, particularly those that are controversial. However with increasingly complex, science-based dilemmas being presented to society, such as cloning, genetic screening, alternative fuels, reproductive technologies and vaccination, there is a growing call for students to be more scientifically literate and to be able to make informed decisions on issues related to these dilemmas. There have been shifts in science curricula internationally towards a focus on scientific literacy, but research indicates that many secondary science teachers lack the support and confidence to address SSI in their classrooms. This paper reports on a project that developed a pedagogical model that scaffolded teachers through a series of stages in exploring a controversial socioscientific issue with students and supported them in the use of pedagogical strategies and facilitated ways of ethical thinking. The study builds on existing frameworks of ethical thinking. It presents an argument that in today's increasingly pluralistic society, these traditional frameworks need to be extended to acknowledge other worldviews and identities. Pluralism is proposed as an additional framework of ethical thinking in the pedagogical model, from which multiple identities, including cultural, ethnic, religious and gender perspectives, can be explored.

For almost a half century David F. Treagust has been an exemplary science educator who has contributed through his dedication and commitments to students, curriculum development and collaboration with teachers, and cutting edge research in science education that has impacted the field globally, nationally and locally. A hallmark of his outstanding career is his collaborative style that inspires others to produce their best work.

The central thesis of this paper is that the learning of science in integrated curricular contexts requires a broader theoretical framework than is typically adopted by researchers and teachers. The common practice of interpreting science learning in terms of conceptual and procedural understandings in such contexts is problematized through an examination of the literature. As an alternative to the traditional approach, a triangulation of three theoretical perspectives is undertaken to view the science learning in a classroom case study of integrated curriculum. The conclusion highlights the necessity of balance between the disciplinary forces on curriculum and the forces that better reflect the multiple dimensions of learning in the real world. The use of theoretical triangulation is demonstrated as a technique through which a balanced, and more complete, view of learning in integrated contexts can be achieved. (Contains 1 table and 5 notes.)

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Science Kits provide sets of science equipment, including worksheets and/or teachers' guides, and are valuable science resources for poorly equipped schools, particularly those located in geographically isolated areas. This paper reports an investigation of how four teachers in four different schools used an Astronomy Science Kit. Their varied experiences, along with their varied levels of knowledge and experience in teaching science, considered in the context of other research about science kits, are used to draw conclusions about how best such Do-It-Yourself Science Kits might be prepared and used by teachers in their classrooms. (Contains 2 figures.)

This research used a survey and interviews to find out which science subjects 174 Year 10 students wanted to study in Year 11 and why. The results showed that the major reasons students wanted to study a particular science subject were because they were interested in the subject matter and because they felt they would achieve well in that subject. These students' Year 11 enrolment data indicated that far fewer students actually enrolled in each of the science subjects compared with those who said that they wanted to. Questions are raised about possible barriers to science enrolment including school policy relating to published school league tables. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.)

For many years, formal school science education has been criticised by students, teachers, parents and employers throughout the world. This article presents an argument that a greater collaboration between the formal and the informal sector could address some of these criticisms. The causes for concern about formal science education are summarised and the major approaches being taken to address them are outlined. The contributions that the informal sector currently makes to science education are identified. It is suggested that the provision of an effective science education entails an enhanced complementarity between the two sectors. Finally, there is a brief discussion of the collaboration and communication still needed if this is to be effective. (Contains 5 tables.)

This research described in this paper firstly explored teachers' ideas about scientific literacy using an interview technique. Secondly, using a longitudinal case study approach, it examined how, following their participation in a professional development program, primary teachers presented opportunities during their science lessons for their students to develop the capabilities of scientific literacy. (Contains 2 tables.)

Scientists in Schools is a project funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations and managed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Education Section. This paper describes how the project is working to establish and maintain sustained and ongoing partnerships between scientists and school communities as a means of developing more scientifically literate citizens. (Contains 2 figures.)

In this study we examined curriculum integration in new ways by exploring the link between classroom context, the implementation of community-based, integrated science projects, and the subsequent student learning. The literature is inconsistent regarding the benefits of an integrated approach to curriculum. The research design was a multiple case study conducted in two classrooms in different schools. We employed a "worldly interpretive framework" that recognizes and embraces the importance of context in framing curriculum practices and outcomes. We found that similar projects in the two classrooms produced distinctly different (and equally valid) outcomes--focused either on bounded discipline-specific knowledge or, alternatively, on issues and problems that transcended disciplinary boundaries. (Contains 5 tables, 1 figure, and 2 notes.)

This paper synthesizes findings from three studies to answer a general question: What do casual, adult visitors learn about science from their science-related experiences in free-choice settings? Specifically we asked whether there are changes in how people think about science in their daily lives, the nature and use of scientific knowledge, and its communication by scientists. The three studies involved samples of visitors to an interactive science centre, visitors to a traditional natural history museum, and attendees at a series of public lectures, each given by an expert scientist in human genetics. Pretest and post-test data collected by parallel questionnaires indicated that, despite the different nature of their experience in the three different settings, participants became more positive about the value of science and the work done by scientists and their ability to communicate with the public. At all venues, however, participants became less scientific in their thinking about the nature of scientific knowledge, becoming more likely to believe it to be infallible. The consistency of these findings was surprising, and participants' changed views about the nature of scientific knowledge were unexpected. Possible explanations for theses outcomes were suggested in terms of participants' reasons for attending the venue, the nature of their engagement, and the non-controversial ways in which the exhibitions and lectures were structured. The findings suggest that the educational role of free-choice settings should be considered carefully, particularly with regard to the representation of science. (Contains 4 tables.)

Research over the last four decades has shown that the classroom learning environment impacts on students' cognitive and affective outcomes. Different approaches have been taken to measure students' perceptions of their learning environment, and this has led to the development of a large number of survey instruments. One such instrument is the College and University Classroom Environment Inventory (CUCEI) which was developed in 1987. The CUCEI was recently modified and both the original and modified versions were validated in a number of studies. This article reports the use of the modified CUCEI in two independent studies in computing classrooms in secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Wellington, New Zealand. The statistical performance of the CUCEI was not completely satisfactory in either study and revealed a number of problems common to these two studies. The difficulties are discussed and recommendations made to increase the validity and reliability of this instrument.

The computing learning environment has not often been equitable for female students. For example, the number of females enrolled in tertiary computing courses is low compared with males and their retention is poor. In recent years, New Zealand educational institutions have experienced an increased enrolment of "new arrivals"--students of diverse nationalities, cultures and educational backgrounds. The New Zealand government is encouraging the expansion of education "exports", yet little is known about how new-arrival students, studying programming at tertiary institutions, perceive their learning environment and whether they feel comfortable and included. This article reports research which examined how equity is perceived by subgroups based on sex and arrival status. The study used a mixed-method design to investigate first-year tertiary programming students' perceptions of their learning environment. Survey results showed that, compared with New Zealand males and new-arrival females, New Zealand females and new-arrival males indicated that they would prefer a more equitable learning environment to the one that they actually experienced. Further, results from student interviews revealed differences amongst the student subgroups, suggesting that there were areas of dissatisfaction not obvious from the survey data.

The last decade has brought considerable progress in our understanding of how institutions like museums affect people's lives. However, there is still a great deal we do not know, and the research challenges ahead sometimes appear quite daunting. In this paper, we suggest that three characteristics of learning, its personal nature, that it is contextualized, and that it takes time, are critical to understanding and investigating the impact that museums have on people's lives. These characteristics have long been recognized, and we believe that recent research has emphasized their importance, but they are yet to be consistently well addressed in research. In the paper, each characteristic is elaborated and its implications for research examined. In particular, we argue that a search for a wider range of learning outcomes, the use of a wider range of research methods, and a greater consideration for, and recognition of, the significance of time are the principles for the future research agenda.

This article reports on students' decision making processes and sources of knowledge in an integrated teaching and learning setting. The study was conducted in a Year 9 classroom as students undertook a 10-week solar-powered boat project and were exposed to related concepts from science, technology and mathematics. Data collection involved detailed case studies of three pairs of students, interviews, classroom observation and analysis of the artefacts and portfolios produced by the students. Students were found to access knowledge from a variety of sources, including teacher's notes from formal instruction, informal interactions with the teacher, observation of and interaction with other students, as well as sources outside the classroom. However, the utility of the knowledge sources was influenced by the nature of the task. When students were performing open-ended tasks, they drew on a wider variety of knowledge sources than when they were performing less open tasks. Moreover, subject discipline-based sources often were not as helpful in solving open tasks. The study leads to several important implications for designing teaching and learning in integrated curriculum settings.

Outlines changes that have taken place in research methods that addressed the informal learning of science, particularly in the museum sector. Addresses perspective shifts, examines current issues, and suggests future directions for research. (Contains 63 references.) (SOE)

Discusses six issues that were the focus of the Ad Hoc Committee's Policy Statement and relates them to conducting research in the domain of out-of-school science learning. Suggests avenues for research in this area. (KHR)

Explores the issue of curriculum integration, with a particular focus on science as a discipline and its relationship with other subjects. Presents the exploration in the form of a research journey. (Author/MM)

Explores the perceptions, ideas, and understanding about science of the staff and adult visitors to an interactive science center. Involves (n=63) staff and (n=102) visitors through interviews and a survey. Suggests that visitors to the science center have a positive experience and most of them recognize a change in the way they think about science. (Contains 27 references.) (Author/YDS)

Focuses on female performance in science and mathematics in a single-sex classroom setting. Reports the circumstances under which teachers were able to implement gender-inclusive strategies in single-sex science classes in coeducational high schools and documents some of the difficulties faced. Gathers qualitative and quantitative data from teachers, students, and classroom observations. (Contains 61 references.) (Author/YDS)

Documents the ways in which one teacher from each school established successful classroom strategies for incorporating technology into classroom life using case studies from two Western Australian schools. Discusses implications in terms of leadership and collaboration. (Contains 26 references.) (DDR)

Reports on a large-scale study that investigated the quality of science teaching and learning in Australian schools. Purposes were to: (1) describe ideal practice in the teaching and learning of school science; (2) describe the nature of science teaching and learning in Australian schools; and (3) make recommendations to move the actual closer to the ideal. (Author/MM)

Presents findings from a three-year evaluative study, plus a follow-up study four years later, into the implementation of a student-owned portable computer program in a secondary school in Perth, Western Australia. Discusses computer use, student computer attitudes, teacher attitudes, the role of teachers in curriculum integration, and student-centered learning environments. (Author/LRW)

Describes the integration of content from science, mathematics, and technology learning areas as well-grounded in the philosophy of middle schooling. Points out the absence of recent research on how students learn science and mathematics concepts in integrated settings. Analyses 9th grade students' learning experiences in a technology project of constructing a solar boat. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/YDS)

Introduces a new curriculum framework that was developed and mandated for implementation in Western Australia. Documents the process by which a mandated set of core shared values were incorporated into a statement describing the science curriculum. Provides a re-analysis of some school science issues. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/YDS)

During a symposium in 1997, speakers raised three issues about gender equity and research: (1) distinguishing between the meanings of the terms gender and sex, (2) assuring that science methods classes are gender inclusive, and (3) determining the reasons for changing practice. (DDR)

Discusses part of study stimulated by the continuing debate over differences between boys and girls in their attitudes towards mathematics and their participation and performance in this subject at school. Concludes that there were clear differences between boys and girls on the Mathematics as a Male Domain scale with girls being less stereotyped in their perceptions than boys. Contains 79 references. (Author/ASK)

Presents examples of integrated science, mathematics, and technology teaching in seventh- to ninth-grade classrooms. Several different forms of integration were found in 16 Western Australia schools including thematic, cross-curricular, technology-based projects and local community projects. Discusses several implementation issues including the process of getting started and implications for students, teachers, schedule, and departmental structure. (Author/SJR)

Highlights the old but important debate about the difference between statistical significance and the practical or educational value of research findings. Argues for proper reporting of quantitative research using meta-analysis methods developed in the 1970s. Contains 53 references. (DDR)

Reports on research that aimed to establish whether patterns of students' reactions to and achievement on physics assessment tasks were associated with the format of the task and the absence or presence of real-world contexts in the tasks. Contains 21 references. (DDR)

A study of 315 English and 745 Australian elementary school students investigated their conceptions of technology. Found that though they shared a similar range of concepts explaining technology, the frequency of concepts varied. Results suggest that rates of concept formation differ because of interrelated factors: home and school influence, ability, gender, and opportunity to discuss ideas. (PEN)

Examines students' perceptions of learning settings in single-sex and mixed-sex mathematics classes and teachers' responses to those different classroom contexts. Concludes that single-sex classrooms provide a more supportive environment for girls but a significantly less supportive environment for boys. The single-sex environment provides opportunities for teachers to address apparent shortcomings arising from students' previous educational experiences. Contains 17 references. (Author/ASK)

Reports research on a pilot project in Western Australia in which single-sex science and mathematics classes were begun in 10 coeducational secondary schools. The program involved professional development for participating teachers and systematic monitoring. Analyzes teachers' reactions to the program and major issues concerning student outcomes, school organization, professional development, community response, and sustainability of change. (Author/MSE)

Focuses on the interactive science center and its history over the last four decades. Traces the original idea to Francis Bacon. Recommends the use of cross-site studies to develop a model of learning in this setting. Contains 141 references. (DDR)