To help teachers get off to a good start, this paper presents the updated "Back-to-School Guide" that is brimming with new-media ideas and resources. It outlines ten tips, along with easy-to-use tools, that will help teachers build their classroom community, survey students to bring out their ideas, and make learning more collaborative. Links to…

This guide explains ways in which the computer can be used in the science classroom and laboratory. Further, it suggests many resources that can be tapped to help teachers initiate and improve their own programs. Chapters include: (1) "The Computer as a Tool for Student Inquiry"; (2) "The Computer as a Tool for Teachers"; (3)…

Reviewed are two computer software packages the "Scientific Routines Diskette: Laboratory Automation Using the IBM PC" and "SEQS 3.0 Student Version Simultaneous Equation Solver" for IBM and compatible personal computers. Discussed are hardware, components, level, cost, functions, strengths, and weaknesses. (CW)

Advocates allowing students to create their own animated simulations as a better way of teaching scientific processes. (YDS)

A review of BioTutor which is software to accompany the third edition of Neil Campbell's textbook, "Biology," is provided. The review includes a brief description of the software and a discussion of good and bad features of the software. In the closing words, the reviewer expresses a considerable amount of concern regarding the quality of this…

Explores the use of computer simulation/modeling programs for teaching a variety of science concepts. (Author/CCM)

Provides information on computer software using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and visualization technologies and Visual Earth, a series of integrated classroom solutions for a variety of science topics. Describes some uses of GIS and Visual Earth in science classrooms. (ASK)

Presents an activity using computer software to investigate the role of the heart and blood, how the blood system responds to exercise, and how pulse rate is a good measure of physical condition. (ASK)

Describes how to fit binocular observations of the planets to a theoretical model of circular orbits using a modern computer spreadsheet, from which fundamental data about the solar system may be deduced. (AIM)

Describes how a spreadsheet is used to fit a circular orbit model to observations of Jupiter's moons made with a small telescope. Kepler's Third Law and the inverse square law of gravity are observed. (AIM)

Investigates whether science permeates the design environment and is thus contexted within the other activities of collaborative management and technology. Focuses on which contexts gave rise to science talk. Studies a classroom with (n=33) students divided into seven teams. (Contains 46 references.) (Author/YDS)

Presents the Weather Lab, a computer-based tool for assessing student knowledge and understanding of weather phenomena by involving students in generating weather forecasts or manipulating weather components affecting the final formulation of a forecast. Contains 37 references. (Author/ASK)

Introduces the MicroObservatory Network of automated telescopes which is designed to provide access to classroom teachers who wish their students to conduct projects over the World Wide Web. Allows students to take pictures with remote pointing and focusing telescopes. Encourages collaboration among schools. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/YDS)

Describes a "Synthesis and Reactivity" curriculum that focuses on the correlation of laboratory experiments with lecture topics and the extension of laboratory exercises beyond the usual four-hour period. Highlights experiments developed and an out-of-class computational chemistry exercise using CAChe, a versatile molecular modeling…

AstroCappella combines the love of music with the love of astronomy. The booklet contains hands-on activities that can be done in the classroom coupled with rocking, high-energy, professionally recorded and produced songs written and performed by an established vocal band. The lesson plans help students learn how convection works, how radio…