A brief note on e-mail lists for science teachers and others
interested in science education (inspired by the forthcoming first
anniversary of learning-science-concepts list later this month):

learning-science-concepts
biotutor
chemistry-teachers
PTNC
science-education

LEARNING-SCIENCE-CONCEPTS
The learning-science-concepts (LSC) group is an e-mail discussion
list for anyone who is interested in the topic of learning in
science: whether as teachers, teacher educators, science education
researchers or others. The list has a web-site (home page:
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/learning-science-concepts),
including a bookmarks page
(http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/learning-science-concepts/links)
with links to other web-sites that are likely to be of interest to
members.

LSC is a moderated group, and only messages related to learning in
science (rather than other aspects of science education) will be
distributed through the list. Other lists exist for less focused
discussion. (Posting that are considered off-theme, but worthy, will
be redirected to the science-education list.)


SCIENCE-EDUCATION
The science-education group has a discussion list with an open
agenda. It is an un-moderated list, so anyone can join (at the home
page: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/science-education) and post
any message. The links page of this web-site
(http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/science-education/links) includes a
wide range of hyper-links to other web-sites of interest to science
teachers and others working in science education, including those
with resources for teachers.

There are lists for teachers in each of the main three science
disciplines (as well as some more specialised lists relating to
specific courses). These often include postings about specific
resources, practicals, content area, and the sharing of
course/examination admin. concerns and experience. (Both Biotutor and
PTNC tend to be high traffic lists.)

For biology teachers:
Biology Tutors Discussion List <BIOTUTOR-L@...>
which is operated through the University of Central Lancashire
server, and should be joined by application to the list owner

For chemistry teachers:
Chemistry-Teachers
which may be joined at the web-site:
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chemistry-Teachers

For physics teachers:
Physics Teaching News and Comments <PTNC@...>
which may be joined at the Institute of Physics website


The LSC list has attracted a substantial membership, although it
tends to have a modest level of activity. The current list
description for LSC is:
"This list is intended as a forum for discussion for teachers,
researchers and others who are interested in aspects of learning in
science. Particular themes might be: alternative conceptions in
science; modelling the learning process; scaffolding learning;
developing and critiquing teaching analogies and models.
Interested parties are invited to join the list, and to contribute by
posting their comments. Suitable postings might include observations
about learners' conceptions; news of relevant publications;
consideration of problematic aspects of learning science; information
about teaching materials, curriculum or research projects.
Researchers are invited to use the e-group to exchange ideas related
to current work - for example related to modelling conceptual
structure and conceptual development (eg multiple frameworks), or to
discuss aspects of the significance and origins of alternative
conceptions. One aspiration of the e-group will be to ensure that
constructivism in science education continues to be a progressive
research programme, through its synthesis with ideas from related
fields."

--


Dr. Keith S. Taber
http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/staff/taber
University Lecturer in Education
University of Cambridge Faculty of Education
Homerton College site
Hills Road
Cambridge CB2 2PH



please send any reply to kst24@...
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to join an electronic discussion list on
learning in science
please visit
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/learning-science-concepts