This research aims to study how a resource-based learning environment (RBLE) helps primary students develop better understanding of the Earth's movement. One objective of the study is to establish an RBLE by creating authentic contexts, selecting appropriate resources, designing relevant tools and adopting necessary scaffolds. The other objective is to examine the effects of the RBLE on primary students' understanding of the Earth's movement in different classroom settings with varied teaching support levels. Research methodology includes pre-lesson and post-lesson tests to study students' understanding, observation and analysis of lessons to examine the teaching scaffolding employed, interviews and teacher's written reflection after all the lessons to investigate their views of the use of RBLE. The findings indicated that there is an interaction effect between students' academic background and settings of learning, and that the RBLE provides little support to students of low academic background, but is very effective to students of higher academic background helping them to construct an improved understanding of the Earth's movement. The article suggested an integrated use of teacher-regulated inquiry approach and interactive inquiry approach for the better use of the RBLE.
[Copyright of Interactive Learning Environments is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10494820802393788]

This research explored student teacher's thinking in science and how they oriented to professional development from pre-service teacher education to beginning teaching. A more holistic view of teacher thinking with four focuses was embedded in this research: (1) conceptions of teaching and learning science; (2) planning; (3) teaching; and (4) reflections. The characteristics of these four aspects and their changes across time, the interrelationships of the four aspects and the change of their coherence in the longitudinal study were the main focus of the study.
An original group of 25 student teachers in Hong Kong were followed for three years, which included their two-year Certificate in Primary Education (Chinese) (Full-Time) Courses (1996-98) at the Hong Kong Institute of Education and their first year of beginning teaching in local primary schools in 1998-99. The student teachers were interviewed about their conception of teaching and learning science and what they had extracted from the experience. Also, they were asked to draw concepts maps to describe their thoughts during planning and were observed in their micro-teaching, school teaching experience and beginning teaching in local classrooms. After each of on these observations, they wrote journals to reflect on their teaching. The research approach involved in-depth qualitative analyses supplemented by quantification when necessary to allow clearer assessment of change in thinking.
In this longitudinal study, student teachers were found to espouse predominant or secondary constructivist conceptions of teaching and learning science to different degrees in different stages of study. Their planning became less intense in terms of lower complexity and fewer thoughts. Besides, teachers' development of constructivist teaching was evident and there was continuing evidence of confronting reflection among teachers throughout the three stages of the study.
An increase in the coherence between the different

This paper reports part of the findings from a project called, "Schools Around the World" which aims to offer opportunities for professional development among teachers participating in the project. Through the exchange of professional experiences between local teachers and teachers from other countries in the world, the development of a standard for students' achievement in science both locally and with reference to an international standard will be achieved. This project is originated from Schools Around the World Project (SAW) which was initiated in the United States by an education research foundation, Council for Basic Education (CBE). Apart from Hong Kong and the United States, there are seven other participating countries including Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Portugal. It marks an innovative approach with its emphasis on teacher professional development. Instead of using curricular documents, textbooks or an one-off testing to find out standard of student achievement, SAW defines standard by engaging teachers in professional discussion about the nature of excellence and the methods of teaching. The excellence at issue is excellent student work. The project also aims to build up a professional network of teachers internationally such that teachers can work together to develop not only the local set of standards but also an international standard for students. Science which warrants much attention from the local educators has been designated as the first subject focus of the SAW project. This paper looks into the initial views of primary teachers about student work, assessment in science learning and the assessment of science projects at the primary level. The present study is now at the pilot stage, hence both the findings presented in this paper and the overall results of the pilot study provide important background information to the project in supporting the professional development of the teachers. Moreover,

This paper argues for the use of stories in science classrooms in the teaching of science, in particular the history of science. It concludes that story can play a very important role in crossing the conventional subject boundaries.

此文旨在透過科學探究活動背後的理念，分析如何透過科學探究實踐常識科的目標，特別是訓練學生的思考，分析和解決問題的能力。文章又推介了一些工作坊的活動，介紹小學科學探究活動的設計及施行方法，還論及推行探究活動的困難。