To date, little of the ecological research on biological diversity and ecosystem functioning has been carried out in agricultural systems, despite the fact that agriculture is a major contributor to loss of native habitats and species. However, agricultural research has demonstrated that polycultures of multiple crop species can have higher total…

The goals of this study were to increase communication between student and teachers in the Biotechnology 385 course, especially between the different modules of the course by designing a WebCT site for all four professors in the course, and to determine if the use of Flash animations integrated into the WebCT environment would increase student…

Preservice elementary teachers in a conceptual physics course were given multiple resources to use during several inquiry activities in order to investigate how materials were chosen, used, and valued. These students performed significantly better on assessment items related to the inquiry physics activities than on items related to traditional…

Designed for high school science teachers, the document warns of potential health threats of performing certain experiments and using certain chemicals or chemical combinations in their courses. Following a rationale for more carefully considering health dangers, the document gives suggestions on what can be done by teachers. Reports such as a…

Research indicates that the educational effectiveness of Microcomputer-Based Laboratories (MBL) may be due to the real time nature of the experience. This article describes a study where kinesthetic feedback was completely removed by giving students only visual replications of a motion situation. If simultaneity of perception is the important…

Many words which have been treated in the denotative sense are actually connotative in nature. That is to say that citing a definition or stating a fact should not be a learning goal. Rather, a "conceptualization" should be what teachers are striving for. A series of activities dealing with density have been provided for demonstrations or…

There is some confusion in discriminating basic educational research (which explores the why's and how's of learning) from applied research (which seeks to test the implications of basic research results) because some investigations are conceived without a clear purpose. Thus, it is not uncommon for researchers to suggest implications that…

IN TWO EXPERIMENTS, FEEDBACK WAS CONCEPTUALIZED AS A CYBERNETIC PARADIGM INVOLVING STUDENT-PROFESSOR INTERACTION, AND WAS USED VIA VIDEO TAPE TO IMPROVE TEACHING OF A FIVE MINUTE LESSON BY STUDENT TEACHERS. IN EXPERIMENT I, FOR THE 24 STUDENTS EQUALLY DIVIDED INTO FEEDBACK AND NO FEEDBACK GROUPS, NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES APPEARED IN 29…

A laboratory summer workshop in materials engineering for high school seniors is discussed. Held at North Carolina State University, the workshop is designed to enlighten university-bound, science-oriented high school students to materials science and engineering, and to construct communication links with high school faculty. The workshop…

Recommends determining molecular weights of liquids by use of a thermocouple. Utilizing a mathematical gas equation, the molecular weight can be determined from the measurement of the vapor temperature upon complete evaporation. Lists benefits as reduced time and cost, and improved safety factors. (ML)

Describes the rationale for using computer-assisted videodisc lessons to enhance introductory chemistry courses at University of Illinois, and presents sample lessons to illustrate what students see and do as they proceed through the lessons. Lesson construction and use are reviewed. (MBR)

Discusses consequences of using computer-assisted learning (CAL) packages for experiment planning in undergraduate physical chemistry laboratories and examines textbook presentations and syllabus criticism. An approach to syllabus reconstruction that combines operational research with experiences of CAL development program is demonstrated through…

Student-centered approach of scoring the concept maps consisted of three elements namely symbol system, individual portfolio and scoring scheme. We scored student-constructed concept maps based on 5 concept map criteria: validity of concepts, adequacy of propositions, significance of cross-links, relevancy of examples, and interconnectedness. With…

Presents a discussion of the need to present a realistic view of the process of science to students in the laboratory. Several activities and readings are suggested. (SA)

A discussion is given of the ways in which thermal conductivity, velocity, and viscosity of sound propagation of gases can be measured by freshmen college students. (Author/SA)