Teaching communication skills in science: Tracing teacher change

This paper describes a general model for skills instruction and its implementation through the program “Scientific Communication” for acquiring learning skills. The model is characterized by modularity, explicit instruction, spiral integration into contents, practice in various contexts, and implementation in performance tasks. It requires flexible planning and implementation by the teachers. The study investigated how science teachers implemented this model for a two-year period. Results show that they coped with this task by customizing the program; they underwent a positive change in perceptions about skills instruction, instructional models, using instructional materials, influence and involvement in school and beyond.     

On the Road with Rock and Soul

This article reports on a study conducted for an exhibition team at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (NMAH). As part of the planning process for a major exhibition, we studied visitors at a small preview exhibition, The Social Roots of Rock and Soul. Personal interviews, including a tape-recorded portion in front of the Rock and Soul display about the images and the themes, were conducted at four venues of the Smithsonian's 150th Anniversary traveling exhibition, America's Smithsonian (Los Angeles, Kansas City, St. Paul, and Houston). The most significant finding from visitor responses is strong regional differences. The study also showed that visitors responded to the images and storyline differently, depending on whether the material was presented through video or panels.