Describes an undergraduate physical science laboratory course exercising the utilization of satellite imagery for studying the floods that resulted in the Parana River region in South America during El Nino (1997-1998), and examines vegetation cover and spectral profiles from the study area in order to further understand and assess the changes…

Describes a computer program which represents the first merger of an expert system and imaging technology into a tool to assist in learning mineral identification. Presents a discussion of the system's development, evaluation of effectiveness, and future modifications. (RT)

Uses computers to aid in teaching one property of the chaos theory: sensitivity to initial conditions. Provides demonstrations that illustrate that science and physics do not and cannot have all the answers to questions asked regarding the causes of natural phenomena. (ZWH)

Describes how students in a geoscience course are introduced to geographic information systems (GIS), a computer-assisted system for the acquisition, storage, analysis, and display of geographic data, through a practical experience involving collecting data and inputting it into a GIS program called IDRISI. (MKR)

Describes two types of star charts commonly available for astronomical viewing and outlines a strategy by which teachers can have students use a computer spreadsheet to prepare their own easy-to-use star charts appropriate for the location, date, and time of viewing. (Author/MKR)

The paper examines how the Internet can be used to improve secondary science instruction, focusing on Internet learning strategies and discussing why preservice teachers should be taught to use the Internet. Four preservice teacher education classes that teach about using Internet to educate students are described. (SM)

Investigated a microcomputer-based system for the diagnosis and remediation of three Aristotelian alternative conceptions of force and motion held by eighth-grade physical science students. Reports that computer simulations exemplifying canonical conceptions facilitate alteration of students' naive conceptions to a significant degree. Suggests…

Discusses biological applications of virtual reality technology that are under development, including making extraordinary scientific images available for the teaching of science. Explores the technology and the development of three-dimensional images. (LZ)

Emphasizes two aspects for a calculus-based physics course: applying calculus and numerical integral methods to determine the theoretical period of a pendulum with nonlinear motion, and achieving theoretical and experimental results by using "MathCad" software and a microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) system. (MVL)

Describes a computer-based prelaboratory lecture to replace traditional lecture. Discusses how the CUPLE method was developed, the course structure, and a typical course day. (MVL)

Uses illustrations and text to discuss convenient ways to organize and present computer-based multimedia to students in lecture classes. Includes the following topics: (1) Effects of illustrations on learning; (2) Using computer-based illustrations in lecture; (3) MacPresents-Multimedia Presentation Software; (4) Advantages of computer-based…

Project Prometheus involves IBM Canada, college faculty, and classroom teachers in Manitoba who cooperate to discover the most effective ways to use information technology to promote mathematics and science literacy. The article analyzes teachers' very positive perceptions of how technology affected their classroom teaching styles and learning…

Studies magnetic oscillation using an air track. Ceramic magnets are attached to the cart and also are used as dampeners in place of the springs. The resulting oscillations are fairly sinusoidal and is a good example of simple harmonic motion. (MVL)

This note describes an inexpensive means for making high resolution analog voltage measurements using the parallel printer port of a standard IBM PC or compatible. (PR)

Describes a study on the performance of Internet notes and PowerPoint lecture slides in a physical geology course and compares it with the traditional lecturing method. (Contains 12 references.) (YDS)