Presents experiments to measure the velocity of sound through metals and other amorphous materials. Describes the equipment used to make the measurements and the possibility of interfacing with a microcomputer. (MDH)

An activity in which students obtain a growth curve for algae, identify the exponential and linear growth phases, and calculate the parameters which characterize both phases is described. The procedure, a list of required materials, experimental conditions, analytical technique, and a discussion of the interpretations of individual results are…

An activity that introduces students to the correct handling of bacterial recombinants, antibiotic sensitivity testing, insertional inactivation, plasmid DNA isolation, restriction endonuclease digestion, agarose gel electrophoresis, Southern blotting, hybridization, and autoradiography is presented. A list of needed materials, procedures, safety…

Describes the ChemKits initiative devised by private colleges in Kansas to help high school science teachers meet their needs for laboratory equipment. Discusses conclusions from three years of running the ChemKits teacher-education program. (WRM)

Describes a set of Mathcad instrument simulations and documents that introduce important concepts for instrumental analysis. Enables students to adjust parameters and optimize an instrument in a timely fashion. (DDR)

Although ammeters are very important tools for science classes in elementary and junior high schools, many ordinary ones are not easy to handle nor sufficiently educational. From this viewpoint, the authors have investigated the possibility of using clamp-on ammeters, which are very common among professional electricians, for educational purposes.…

Analytical and experimental methods are used to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of Aluminum 6061-T651 beams with rectangular and circular cross-sections. A unique test stand is developed to provide the rectangular beam with different boundary conditions including clamped-free, clamped-clamped, clamped-pinned, and pinned-pinned.…

Graduate students from a variety of agricultural and natural resource fields are incorporating geographic information systems (GIS) analysis into their graduate research, creating a need for teaching methodologies that help students understand advanced GIS topics for use in their own research. Graduate-level GIS exercises help students understand…

This handbook is based on a list of essential topics that should be mastered by the student who subsequently plans to pursue college chemistry. Chapters include: (1) "Introduction" (describing a position paper and the background of the handbook); (2) "Essential General Topics and Objectives"; (3) "Testing Students"…

This document is a scientific study of water, aquatic environments and the plants and animals that live in water. It was written for grades 4-6 but many activities may also be of interest for use with older students. This curriculum covers both marine and freshwater habitats. Each of five sections addresses a question about water which is then…

Recognizing that a crisis exists in engineering education, several state professional engineering societies have taken the lead in identifying and helping to solve problems related to engineering education on a state level. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), believing that NSPE state societies are ideally structured to assume a…

This report presents findings of the Task Force on Engineering Education which was formed under the auspices of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Section I reviews the genesis of the NAE Task Force and its charge. Section II discusses the Task Force's approach, which included a survey of engineering professionals in academia, industry,…

This report summarizes a hearing held on the current state of research facilities at United States universities. The hearing also focused on what role the federal government, universities, and business can play in restoring the university research infrastructure. Part I of the report analyzes the hearing according to the various issues that were…

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ANNUAL INDIANA-PURDUE LANGUAGE LABORATORY CONFERENCE ARE ORGANIZED, AFTER INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS BY NAJAM AND LARSEN ON CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION, UNDER THREE GENERAL HEADINGS PLUS APPENDIXES. IN THE FIRST SECTION DEVOTED TO MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES ARE ARTICLES BY HYER, GARIMALDI, EDDY, AND SMITH…

GROWING COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY SIMILAR INCREASES IN DEMAND FOR GENERAL CHEMISTRY, WITH RESULTANT PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION. THIS PAPER IS A DISCUSSION OF SOME WAYS OF MEETING THE PROBLEMS OF NUMBERS. MULTISECTION COURSES MAY BE ORGANIZED AROUND COMMON GENERAL OBJECTIVES OR AROUND COMMON CONTENT. AN…