Textbook Reviews on the Web

Project 2061 - Reviews science and math texts for how well they help students master the material, and how well they aid teachers.

Hubisz Report on Middle School Textbooks - Comprehensive review of MS texts, detailing the factual errors.

The Textbook League - Reviews many textbooks including science texts.

Research Based Curriculum Material

There is now available some research based material that has documented effectiveness in helping students learn science concepts. All of this material works best when it has been used according to the teacher's manual. Some of this material requires a lot of learning by the teacher, but some of it can work well in inexperienced hands. Some of this material comes complete with the relevant papers showing its effectiveness.

Physical Science (Integrated Physics & Chemistry)

Virtually all middle school texts by major publishers have been judged as having too many errors, and of providing inadequate support for student learning. The following are the only texts that have been recommended in some reports.

Matter and Molecules - Helps students understand molecules, and helps dispel common misconceptions. It contains copyable worksheets, a reader, and a teacher's manual. Available from: Battle Creek Area Math. and Science Center, 765 Upton Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan,  49015-4850, (616) 965-9440. Reference: "Changing Middle School Students' Conceptions of Matter and Molecules", O. Lee, D. Eichinger, C. Anderson, G. Berkhiemer, T. Blakeslee, JRST 30, pp250-270 (1993), also see: www.project2061.org

Chemistry that Applies - Chemistry curriculum that helps students understand chemical ideas. It uses common "safe" household chemicals. Copyable worksheets. Available from: Battle Creek Area Math. and Science Center, 765 Upton Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan,  49015-4850, (616) 965-9440 It was recommended by private communication from one of the Project 2061 reviewers.

Introductory Physical Science , - Highly recommended by an article in Science News "Where's the Book" by Janet Ratloff, and also by John Hubisz in The Physics Teacher, 39(5) May 2001 pp 304-309, and by The Textbook League. It has the virtue of being written and published by one author (Uri Haber-Schaim), so it will be nearly error free. It has been extensively classroom tested, and is now in 7th edition. It is consistent with many of the ideas found by research to promote better learning. It may be purchased from Science Curriculum Inc., Belmont, Mass.

Physics (Some of this can be used for 9th grade students)

ICP/21, Various authors – This curricula has been written for introductory college algebra based physics, but has been used in high school. It consists of a series of modules. Some of the core modules have been tested and show good gain. It is available from on a CD-rom. The modules can then be modified by the instructor to suit the target students. Publisher: Ztek

Tools for Scientific Thinking, R. Thornton, D. Sokoloff - A series of 45 min Labs that increase understanding of graphs , motion, heat, and force concepts. Copyable worksheets and sources on diskette. References included. Publisher: Vernier.

Workshop Physics, P. Laws - Full course in calculus based physics. It has been used for algebra based physics, and has been used in AP courses. Workbook, and available on CD. Publisher: Wiley

Real Time Physics, D. Sokoloff, P. Laws, R. Thornton - A large series of 90 minute labs that increase understanding of concepts. Topics cover kinematics, Newton's laws, heat, and electricity. Workbook, and available on CD. Publisher: Mechanics&Heat Wiley , Electricity Vernier. A recent review of a program that uses RTP is available at the Univ. of Maine Physics Education Research Lab see: lrpe.umephy.maine.edu/perl/research/index.html

Minds on Physics, W. Leonard, R. Dufresne, W. Gerace, J. Mestre - Multivolume text with copyable worksheets. Algebra based physics. Relevant papers and sample materials available at: umperg.physics.umass.edu. Publisher: Kendall/Hunt

Interactive Lecture Demonstrations, R. Thornton, D. Sokoloff - Set of five 45 minute interactive lecture demonstrations that prove to be effective in dispelling non Newtonian misconceptions. Copyable worksheets, and sources on diskette. References included. Publisher: Vernier

Cooperative Group Problem Solving, P. Heller, K. Heller - Rich context problems solved by groups of students. This is a complete manual with teacher's instructions. This is suitable for an advanced HS course, and some material may be suitable for lower level classes. References: Teaching problem solving through cooperative grouping., P. Heller, Am. Jour. Physics, 60(1992) 627-636 Web site includes evaluation results and : ://www.physics.umn.edu/groups/physed/Research/CGPS/CGPSintro.htm

Peer Instruction, E. Mazur - A manual on how to implement interactive lectures. The book includes teacher's instructions, evaluation results, and curriculum material. This is a very low cost method of enhancing lecture based courses. Publisher: Prentice Hall

Socratic Dialog Labs, R. Hake - Low cost labs which have been effective in improving test results. Some instructor training may be necessary to achieve good results. Evaluation results and full labs are available from: http://www.physics.umn.edu/groups/physed/Research/CGPS/CGPSintro.htm

Preconceptions in Mechanics, C. Camp, J. Clement - Lab/recitation manual that guides student to think through various ideas in mechanics. This uses low cost materials and is suitable for use in middle school or HS. Complete instructions and copyable worksheets are provided. Publisher: Kendall Hunt

Modeling , Hestenes - This is a complete course in physics using the "Modeling Method". It is really a way to teach. Sample materials are available from their website, and also evaluations showing the method's effectiveness. The best way to implement modeling is by attending one of their workshops. This method has received an Exemplary award by the US Department of Education.

Biology

Workshop Biology - An inquiry based introductory course in biology from University of Oregon. Curriculum materials and evaluations are available from the web site.

Elementary Science

SCIS kits available from Delta education. These went through intensive cycles of development under an experienced team of educators and scientists. They have been researched for effectiveness in the classroom.

Mathematics

Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP) - This program has received an Exemplary award by the US Dept. of Education, and a number of good reviews.

Caution

A caution is in order. There is a lot of material available which has not been tested, and most of it is very ineffective in promoting better student learning. Some of this material purports to be superior or research based. You should always ask for evaluations which have been published in refereed national journals. Celebrity testimonials by noted authors, scientists, and educators must always be considered suspect. Remember that before medical doctors started paying attention to research results they swore by blood letting and leeches to cure many ailments. If every teacher asked for research results, the publishers and authors might sponsor the necessary studies. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. You can E-mail me at hal-pc.org under my last name.

John M. Clement , Houston, Tx.

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