The primary purpose of this study was to determine if self-instructional data analysis sessions could be used effectively as traditional college laboratories to reinforce students' understanding of certain principles of mechanics. The secondary purpose was to determine whether any of the 140 college physics students involved had a dependence on…

Advocates a strong emphasis on the teaching of the design of electronic circuits in undergraduate courses. An instructional paradigm involving the design and construction of a single-transistor amplifier is provided. (CP)

Presents an undergraduate laboratory exercise in elementary statistics in which students verify empirically the various aspects of the Gaussian distribution. Sampling techniques and other commonly used statistical procedures are introduced. (CP)

Describes a series of science activities involving dissection and analysis of a sea necklace. (CP)

Provides demonstrations using digital display instruments of some of the mass and pH-related topics covered in first-year chemistry courses. (CP)

Describes a laboratory procedure which does not demand sophisticated equipment. (CP)

In this section, brief contributed articles on a variety of secondary school science topics appear. (CP)

Suggests use of the planarian D. Dorotocephala, an animal 20 mm in size, in order to provide inexpensive lab experiences for students in large introductory psychology courses. The animal can be used to study perception, memory, behavior modification, and group processes. (Author/AV)

Provides a series of learning center activities which demonstrate concepts about air. (CP)

Presents an experimental method for introducing special relativity which utilizes the distinction between Doppler effects for sound and for light. (SL)

Discusses a high school laboratory in which the students take an active role in designing, implementing, and performing experiments concerning basic concepts in physics. (MLH)

Discusses a laboratory course with computer-assisted instruction which emphasizes uses of simulated data, students' improvement of experiments, and presentation of a tutorial self-test mode. Indicates that students' enthusiasm is mostly due to computer's potential for in-depth interactivity and conformity to real-life situations. (CC)

Discusses the use of programmed scripts, textbooks, films, and cassette tapes to conduct a self-instruction laboratory course. Indicates the presence of marked positive effects on the development of the students' ability to plan their own experiments. (CC)