San Diego State University will create a learning environment in the physics and biology courses for elementary teachers that facilitates conceptual understanding of scientific phenomena. The classroom environment will utilize computer and videodisc learning tools to help students construct and monitor their own scientific knowledge. The products to be produced by the project are: A) a metacognitive skills workbook; B) skeletal semantic networks in physics and biology for use in teaching students to think about the links between observation, evidence, and interpretation; C) videodisc-based tutorials in several areas of physics; D) a videodisc of physics and biology images relevant to classroom activities; and E) strategies for teaching prospective elementary teachers for conceptual understanding. The University's cost sharing will be 14% of NSF's contribution.
