Describes scientific collaboratories as environments where researchers can perform their research without regard to physical location, interacting with colleagues, accessing instrumentation, sharing data and computational resources, and accessing information in digital libraries. Focuses on an evaluation study that compared undergraduates working…

Describes a course developed for undergraduate students that includes an environmental science lecture and laboratory section. Focuses on the laboratory section as the critical component with activities that are real-world related, hands-on, problem solving-based, and use cooperative learning approaches. (Contains 12 references.) (Author/YDS)

Urges the use of plastinated specimens as an alternative to traditional dissection in biology classrooms. Suggests that plastinated biological specimens heighten student interest and enhance teaching. Interview responses of students, teachers, and administrators to the use of plastinated specimens in selected high schools were found to be very…

Discusses appropriate methodologies for investigating how learning occurs in the laboratory. Presents two techniques, concept mapping and V-diagramming, which can be effective research tools in probing students' understanding of chemical principles. These techniques can also be effective instructional tools that help students integrate lecture…

Introduces an alternative method to determine the mechanics of a moving object that uses computer vision algorithms with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera as a recording device. Presents two experiments, pendulum motion and terminal velocity, to compare results of the alternative and conventional methods. (YDS)

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 technique for using lecture-laboratory facilities and faculty office facilities to provide students a site for intensive laboratory exercises. Provides a layout of the lecture-laboratory facilities and energy systems of the facilities. Presents an instructional example on the concept of the natural frequency of single-degree-of-freedom…

Describes a computer program designed to enable undergraduate students to apply computer skills for data acquisition and processing in experimental chemistry. An example is given that examines the absorption spectra of conjugated molecules such as carbocyanine dyes, and the free electron model is explained. (six references) (LRW)

Argues that the science lab can be an environment highly conducive to intellectual development. Discusses students' task commitment and motivation, and teacher enthusiasm, expectations, genuineness, and exemplary behavior in light of research findings and the author's personal experience. (RS)

Discusses a high school physics course for a vocational program. Describes the development, organization, characteristics, and pilot test results for "Principles of Technology." (YP)

Defines a few major reasons for the frequent failure of laboratory instructional methods and outlines some modes of thinking that seem to promise greater effectiveness and firmer justification for maintaining the laboratory as an essential component of physics teaching. (MVL)

Working with high school instructors previously identified as master laboratory teachers, a research institute was created to share as much information on laboratory instruction as possible with participants who experienced several laboratory sessions as students. Provides details of the workshop so that others interested in enhancing laboratory…

Includes "Higher-Level Skills in the UK" (Connor); "US and UK Labour Markets for New Grads" (Court); "Contribution of National Laboratories to the European Scientific Labour Market" (Smith); and "Recruitment of Nontraditional Scientists and Engineers in Europe" (Court, Jagger). (SK)

Describes an educational game called "Population Blocks" that is designed to illustrate the concept of exponential growth of the human population and some potential effects of overpopulation. The game material consists of wooden blocks; 18 blocks are painted green (representing land), 7 are painted blue (representing water); and the remaining…

Discusses composting of organic materials as an alternative to landfills. Lists uses of composts and describes details of a simple composting activity for high school students. Includes an information sheet for students and a student data sheet. Suggests other composting activities. (PR)