Qualitative analysis schemes are used in undergraduate laboratory settings as a way to introduce equilibrium concepts and logical thinking. The main component of all qualitative analysis schemes is a flame test, as the color of light emitted from certain elements is distinctive and a flame photometer or spectrophotometer in each laboratory is…

The purpose of this study is to first develop an 8-week college teaching module based on root competition literature. The split-root technique is adapted for the teaching laboratory, and the Sugar Ann English pea (Pisum sativum var. Sugar Ann English) is selected as the species of interest prior to designing experiments, either original or…

The recent structural reforms in New Zealand education have given schools and teachers unprecedented freedom in curricular design and delivery. Using official educational award statistics for 2004 and data arising from a study of 23 schools' upper secondary science curricula in the same year, this study represents an early monitoring of the impact…

The MicroObservatory network of five online telescopes has been used by middle and high school students, their teachers, and the public in all 50 states to carry out a wide variety of inquiry-driven projects. From an analysis of 475 student projects and other data, we report substantial gains in students' conceptual understanding of what…

This hearing discussed how lack of coordination between laboratory exercises and classroom lectures, inadequately trained teachers, languishing facilities, and current high school organization diminish the value these exercises can have or prohibit them all together, and highlighted how a strong hands-on experience can create scientifically…

A dissertation study is described which employed action research methods and was conducted over four semesters of practice in a large first year undergraduate physics laboratory making extensive use of microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) technology. Three cycles of action research are recounted, along with the resultant changes in goals,…

This paper describes the first phase of a study to investigate students' evaluations of computer laboratory modules in a university-level, non-majors biology course. The National Science Foundation-funded project has two primary goals: (1) to develop programmable, multifunctional Bio LabStations for data collection and analysis, lab extensions,…

Two questions about the effects of microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) activities on graphing skills were addressed in this study: (1) the extent to which activities help students link their concrete experiences with motion with graphic representations of these experiences; and (2) the degree of importance of the real-time aspect of the MBL in…

A study was designed to evaluate whether congruency or incongruency between a teacher's intended discovery/inquiry laboratory instructional strategy and his/her actual behaviors used to implement that strategy had an effect on higher level learning by students. Also assessed was whether student performance on science projects can be an effective…

This paper reports a study which investigated student characteristics for predicting success in an independent, open laboratory. Data were gathered from introductory biology students (N=98) enrolled in a public, two-year college near Atlanta, Georgia. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of age, sex, laboratory…

Presented is a review of three methods for evaluating the effects of laboratory work in high school science instruction. The report focuses specifically on evaluating student performance, what aspects are to be evaluated, and how to evaluate. A table is given of some of the limitations and benefits of each of the assessment procedures. The authors…

THIS IS A REPORT OF A DAY'S WORKSHOP ON THE COLLEGE SCIENCE CENTER, WITH A GROUP OF ARCHITECTS, COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS, AND FACULTY. THE EMPHASIS WAS ON A DISCUSSION OF THE CONSOLIDATION OR CENTRALIZATION OF SCIENCE FACILITIES ON THE LIBERAL ARTS CAMPUS. SPECIFIC TOPICS INCLUDED--(1) WHY BUILD A SCIENCE CENTER, (2) BRIDGING OVER SUBJECT…

A SUMMER INSTITUTE WAS HELD FOR PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS OF INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION. CLASSES AND LABORATORY SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED DURING 6 WEEKS OF 1965. THE PARTICIPANTS CONSISTED OF EIGHT TRAINEES FROM THE FACULTY OF POST-HIGH SCHOOL TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS, ONE FULL-TIME PROFESSOR, AND TWO GUEST LECTURES. THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CLASS…

Included in this publication are 16 papers related to teaching chemistry in junior colleges. The papers are presented in the following topic areas: (1) Instructional Systems; (2) Current Concerns in Chemical Education; (3) Learning Problems in Chemistry; and (4) Special Topics to Teaching. (SA)

MANY HIGH SCHOOLS ARE BROADENING THEIR SCIENCE CURRICULUM WITH SPECIALIZED COURSES. THIS REPORT SURVEYS THE NATURE OF THESE COURSES AS BEING--(1) DEVELOPMENTAL, (2) APPLIED, AND (3) SPECIALIZED. A SURVEY OF THE SEPARATE SCIENCE COURSES REVEALS THAT ONLY A FEW CLEARLY FIT INTO THE ABOVE THREE CLASSIFICATIONS. MOST COURSES BY NATURE OVERLAP EITHER…