The USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Web Soil Survey is a valuable teaching tool for soil science education. By incorporating the Web Soil Survey into an undergraduate-level course, students are able to use the most detailed digital soil survey information without the steep learning curve associated with geographic information…

The case-based computerized laboratory (CCL) is a chemistry learning environment that integrates computerized experiments with emphasis on scientific inquiry and comprehension of case studies. The research objective was to investigate chemical understanding and graphing skills of high school honors students via bidirectional visual and textual…

The objectives of this study were: to investigate biology students' perceptions of the classroom and the laboratory learning environments by means of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) and the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI) instruments and to compare these perceptions with the environments ideally liked or preferred by…

Students enrolled in an introductory, audio-tutorial biology course were randomly assigned to either the control group, which followed the regular program and took pre and posttests designed for this study, or to the experimental group, which followed an identical program with additional exercises specially designed to teach higher cognitive…

A reactor to convert waste rubber tires to useful products such as CO and H2, was investigated in a university undergraduate design project. The student worked individually with mentorship from a faculty professor who aided the student with professional critique. The student was able to research the background of the field and conceive of a novel…

A low-cost tensile testing machine was built for testing polymeric films. This apparatus also allows for tear-strength and flexural tests. The experimental results, obtained from common-use materials, selected by the students, such as plastic bags, illustrate important aspects of the mechanical behavior of polymeric materials. Some of the tests…

The purpose of this research was to design, create a prototype, and evaluate an Educational Data Acquisition System (EDAS) for use in secondary school science laboratories. The prototype of EDAS consisted of a microcomputer, data acquisition interface, sensors, software, and documentation. It provided the teacher and students with a…

In a 16-year study involving more than 4,800 students, fewer than 2% of students were caught cheating in introductory science classes. The most common type of cheating was plagiarism in lab reports (50% of incidents), followed by altering exams (41%) and submitting falsified lab data (9%). Cheating occurred among students earning all grades in the…

Discusses some of the most important structural features found in modern chemical laboratories, including building shapes, floor plans, and window utilization. (MLH)

This book is intended as a guide for people who are planning chemistry and physics research laboratories. It deals with the importance of effective communication between client and architect, the value of preliminary planning, and the role of the project officer. It also discusses the size and layout of individual laboratories, the design of…

Seven-slide series produced by the Diafilm Studio are discussed as they are used as demonstration material for teaching students detailed familiarity with the morphology of the plants in given families and with the variety of their representatives. (Author/ND)

This inexpensive, effective chemiluminescence demonstration requires minimal preparation. It is based on the oxidation of oxalyl chloride by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an appropriate fluorescent sensitizer. The reaction mechanism is not completely understood. (BB)

Two specialized facilities to produce cells and cell components on a large scale for scientific research have recently been established by the National Science Foundation. (BB)