Dennis W. Sunal – författare

This book addresses the expectations toward the science standards of various stakeholders including students, parents, teachers, administrators, higher education science and science education faculty members, politicians, governmental and professional agencies, and the business community.

This book also investigates how the science standards have been translated into practice at the K-12 school district level, addressing issues around professional development, curriculum, assessment/evaluation, and accountability. The fundamental questions to be addressed are: (1) What is the response in terms of trends and patterns, of the educational system to the introduction of the national and state science standards since the late 1980’s? and (2) What is the impact of the introduction of the science standards on teachers, classrooms, and students?

The Impact of the Laboratory and Technology on K-12 Science Learning and Teaching examines the development, use, and influence of active laboratory experiences and the integration of technology in science teaching. This examination involves the viewpoints of policymakers, researchers, and teachers that are expressed through research involving original documents, interviews, analysis and synthesis of the literature, case studies, narrative studies, observations of teachers and students, and assessment of student learning outcomes. Volume 3 of the series, Research in Science Education, addresses the needs of various constituencies including teachers, administrators, higher education science and science education faculty, policymakers, governmental and professional agencies, and the business community.

The guiding theme of this volume is the role of practical laboratory work and the use of technology in science learning and teaching, K-16. The volume investigates issues and concerns related to this theme through various perspectives addressing design, research, professional practice, and evaluation. Beginning with definitions, the historical evolution and policy guiding these learning experiences are explored from several viewpoints. Effective design and implementation of laboratory work and technology experiences is examined for elementary and high school classrooms as well as for undergraduate science laboratories, informal settings, and science education courses and programs. In general, recent research provides evidence that students do benefit from inquirybased laboratory and technology experiences that are integrated with classroom science curricula. The impact and status of laboratory and technology experiences is addressed by exploring specific strategies in a variety of scientific fields and courses. The chapters outline and describe in detail researchbased best practices for a variety of settings.

Research in Science Education (RISE) Volume 6, Research Based Undergraduate Science Teaching examines research, theory, and practice concerning issues of teaching science with undergraduates. This RISE volume addresses higher education faculty and all who teach entry level science. The focus is on helping undergraduates develop a basic science literacy leading to scientific expertise. RISE Volume 6 focuses on research-based reforms leading to best practices in teaching undergraduates in science and engineering.

The goal of this volume is to provide a research foundation for the professional development of faculty teaching undergraduate science. Such science instruction should have short- and longterm impacts on student outcomes. The goal was carried out through a series of events over several years. The website at http://nseus.org documents materials from these events. The international call for manuscripts for this volume requested the inclusion of major priorities and critical research areas, methodological concerns, and results of implementation of faculty professional development programs and reform in teaching in undergraduate science classrooms.

In developing research manuscripts to be reviewed for RISE, Volume 6, researchers were asked to consider the status and effectiveness of current and experimental practices for reforming undergraduate science courses involving all undergraduates, including groups of students who are not always well represented in STEM education. To influence practice, it is important to understand how researchbased practice is made and how it is implemented. The volume should be considered as a first step in thinking through what reform in undergraduate science teaching might look like and how we help faculty to implement such reform.

This book addresses the expectations toward the science standards of various stakeholders including students, parents, teachers, administrators, higher education science and science education faculty members, politicians, governmental and professional agencies, and the business community.

This book also investigates how the science standards have been translated into practice at the K-12 school district level, addressing issues around professional development, curriculum, assessment/evaluation, and accountability. The fundamental questions to be addressed are: (1) What is the response in terms of trends and patterns, of the educational system to the introduction of the national and state science standards since the late 1980’s? and (2) What is the impact of the introduction of the science standards on teachers, classrooms, and students?