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Reports the results of a comparative study of the 26 open universities in Asia (of 12 Asian countries/regions) conducted by the Center for Research in Distance and Adult Learning, Open University of Hong Kong. Topics explored were: gender/age distribution of the students; leadership styles; teaching and delivery model; methods and forms of student assessment; and importance of outcome indicators. (Author/AEF)

Describes a study of students at the Open University of Hong Kong that investigated gender differences in factors that contributed to successful achievement in distance education. Considers previous experience; study habits; motivation; help-seeking and use of support services; family, social, and work context; self-perceptions and attitudes. (Contains 54 references.) (Author/LRW)

Discussion of students' effective help-seeking focuses on a study that compared the help-seeking strategies used by students identified as high achievers in courses at the Open University of Hong Kong and groups identified as low achievers. Examines gender differences in both groups based on results of questionnaires and telephone interviews. (Author/LRW)

Studied the characteristics of constructivism and their presence in face-to-face and open and distance learning through electronic discussions involving 12 experts and the evaluation of 17 telephone-mediated tutorials. Findings indicate that the seven identified components of constructivism were not sufficiently present in any setting evaluated. (SLD)

Ratings of 183 science and math preservice teachers in Hong Kong revealed significant gaps between what they know and what they need to know, especially in terms of concept and pedagogical knowledge and knowledge of teaching theories. They displayed high expectations of expert teachers. (SK)

Describes a survey of students from the Open University of Hong Kong that compared high achievers and low achievers as defined by performances on scores over four consecutive semesters. Discusses locus of control; metacognition; locus of control and achievement motivation; and implications for instructional design, materials development, and support services. (LRW)

Reviews collateral learning theory as a cognitive explanation for how pupils cope with disparate worldviews mediated by transcending cultural borders between their everyday culture and the culture of science. Proposes a new pedagogy in which teachers assume the role of culture broker in the classroom to achieve culturally sensitive curriculum and assessment. Contains 92 references. (Author/WRM)

Synthesizes the concept of "cultural border crossing" with "collateral learning," its cognitive explanation. Examines and advocates the efficacy of reanalyzing previously published interpretive data in light of this conceptual synthesis. Contains 59 references. (Author/WRM)

Reviews the advent of science in Africa and discusses the possibilities and implications of combining traditional African thought systems with Western science to develop an effective culture for Africa in the 21st century. Contains 62 references. (DDR)

Investigates the validity of an instrument used to identify factors perceived as stressful by secondary science students. Results indicate that students regarded the fear of scoring low marks in examinations as the most stressful factor and that perceptions of factors vary with location of students and ethnic groupings. Appendix includes the Science Student Stress Inventory. Contains 46 references. (Author/JRH)

Investigates how science education students (n=265) rank some identified science education program standards and discusses their perceptions of the desirability and achievement of the standards in Nigeria. Results indicate that encouraging students to become self-directed learners and emphasizing the utilization of scientific values were prioritized as first and last, respectively. Contains 48 references. (JRH)

Investigates the relationship between wait-time of Nigerian integrated science teachers in relation to the amount of students' participation in inquiry. Examines the relationship between wait-time and sociocultural attitudinal factors prevalent in traditional societies. The pedagogical and curricular implications of the results have been highlighted. (LZ)

The Learning Objectives Questionnaire was completed by 287 of 600 distance education students. The majority perceived learning objectives to be useful and an integral part of learning strategy. A need to integrate student dispositions with the current shift toward constructivist learning was identified. (SK)

Discusses how learning occurs and the role of the learning environment as a source of information. Argues that the culture of the learner has a central role in the learning of science using the traditional world view of African students as an example. Contains 124 references. (DDR)

Discussion of school effectiveness, achievement outcomes, and sociocultural influences focuses on a study of Nigerian high school students that was conducted to determine whether or not instruction based on a sociocultural model could significantly alter students' attitudes toward learning and achievement in science. (51 references) (LRW)

Describes a study that was conducted to determine whether distance education learners experience anxiety, based on results of a survey of 222 University of Southern Queensland students. Anxiety toward instructional materials and variables that affect students' perceptions of factors that affect their anxiety are discussed. (LRW)

Describes a study that investigated the opinions of distance educators and practitioners in Australia regarding the availability of research information, areas in which research efforts should be concentrated, and the order of priority to be given to research areas in distance education. (LRW)

Discussion of the use of computers in classrooms in Third World countries focuses on a survey of secondary school students in Lagos (Nigeria) that examined pupils' conception of a computer and their perceptions of the role and sociocultural consequences of computers in the classroom. (18 references) (LRW)

Investigation found that instruction through the use of the sociocultural mode has a positive effect on students' attitudes toward learning science (n=600 Nigerian students). The findings also indicate that anthropomorphic and mechanistic views can be presented in such a way as to promote positive attitudes toward the study of science in traditional cultures. (PR)

Compared attitudes toward computer use and achievement in biology for three groups of Nigerian students (n=64): (1) working alone with computer; (2) working in groups of three on the computer; (3) and a control group that received normal instruction (lecture). Students in the second group had the highest scores on attitude. No significant differences were found in achievement. (PR)

The supposition that observational skills can be influenced by students' belief in traditional African cosmology, beliefs, and superstitions was investigated. Students with a high level of belief in African traditional cosmology made fewer correct observations on the Traditional Cosmology Test (TCT) and the Test of Observational Skills (TOS) as compared to those with a low level of belief. (KR)

Discussed is the influence of the nature of the environment on the culture of a people and students' concept attainment in science. The influence of the home environment, reasoning abilities, and preference in type of learning are included in the discussion. (KR)

This study sought to find out whether concept mapping reduces anxiety and thereby enhances achievement in biology. A total of 51 grade-10 students participated in the experiment. Findings indicate concept mapping is significantly more effective than traditional teaching in enhancing learning in biology and reducing student anxiety toward biology. (32 references) (PR)

An article that highlighted the need to tailor science education graduate programs to the needs of graduate students from poor countries is praised for challenging the Eurocentrism of graduate programs in the West. It was suggested that institutions that are willing to financially support graduate studies in the West should also offer grants for graduate studies within the home country. This will prevent financial pressures from forcing graduate students to go home immediately after submitting their theses, thus raising their chances of earning their diplomas or certificates.

A study which examined the wait-time of science teachers in Nigeria relative to the amount of student participation in inquiry revealed that wait-time teacher utterance of integrated science teachers averaged 3.0 seconds, while wait-time student utterance posted an average of 0.7 seconds. The former refers to the time a teacher pauses after a question and the latter pertains to the length of time a teacher waits after a response to her comment or asks her a question. The study also found that student participation in student-teacher classroom communication is minimal. A relationship between wait-time and sociocultural factors was also established.

The quality of science education islargely dependent on the work attitude of teachers, which in turn, is influenced by the presence of stresses associated with teaching. A survey of stress factors among science educators shows that inadequate educational materials, incomprehensive topics, time constraints, class size and teaching demands limit their effectiveness as class facilitators. However, changes in activity, sharing of resources, positive attitudes and attempts at improvement help negate these factors and lead to effective handling of the situation.

Describes a study designed to compare student success in a concept mapping exercise with the cognitive preference of the student, and to determine whether students achieve better using individualistic or cooperative learning modes in the concept mapping exercise. Discusses the background, methodology and results. (CW)

Reported is a study in which secondary school students assessed their teachers for characteristics of effective science teaching. It was shown that the instrument used was highly valid and reliable and that secondary school students could effectively assess their teachers' pre-classroom characteristics, teaching behaviors, personality, and attitudes. (Author/CW)