Describes a multimedia course in engineering developed to serve course materials to students in a more realistic form so that they will better understand the relevance of the material. Defines multimedia, discusses the advantages of multimedia presentation of course material, and provides details of the tools used in this project. (DDR)

Thirty-one correlates of critical thinking skills were studied for 79 Black and Latino engineering students at three American universities in programs designed to retain students with academic difficulties. Results suggest that minority students with better critical thinking skills are at greater risk in college, especially on predominantly white…

Examines the essential characteristics of engineering teachers' pedagogical content knowledge by studying teachers' conceptions of their students' ideas of moment. Finds that although teachers originally appeared to be familiar with their students' conceptions, they were rather astonished by the general pattern of student thinking. (Author/SOE)

Describes an engineering course for education and other nonscience majors. In this course, students integrate basic principles of applied physical science and engineering to solve authentic design problems. Discusses the nature of the interactive and problem-based instructional format and its effects on developing students' scientific inquiry…

Presents a list of outstanding science trade books published in 2001 for use in the K-12 grade levels. Includes the areas of archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology; biography; life sciences; integrated science; physical sciences; science related careers; and technology and engineering. Provides information on the books and the selection…

Details a project in which successful DNA analysis techniques were developed by students and their teacher in a rural school. Focuses on a study of sage grouse. (DDR)

Reports on the advances of one institution in integrating design across the undergraduate engineering curriculum. Design education is treated as a developmental process to be practiced during each year of the program. Presents examples of design work from courses in each year to illustrate the variety of design problems used to incorporate design…

Interviews with 40 women engineering students revealed various difficulties and dissatisfactions they encountered in their engineering programs. Inadequate counseling and advising were identified as major barriers to students' satisfaction. Discusses role models, career guidance, and the career search. Suggests that many of these problems can be…

Describes the main lecture hall at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, which contains state-of-the-art computing, sound, lighting, and projection systems. This working audiovisual (AV) laboratory allows its designer, professor Mojtaba Navvab, to teach the basics of environmental technology and AV design…

Asserts that rather than science and math being too difficult for most students, vast numbers of students with highly developed intellectual and analytical skills are languishing in thoroughly unstimulating classrooms. Suggests that addressing false elitist assumptions is necessary to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and…

Reviews the studies on which a meta-analysis by Springer, Stanne, and Donovan (1999) were based; the meta-analysis had concluded that small group learning in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education is effective. Concludes that the meta-analysis' call for more widespread implementation of small group learning is not supported.…

Describes a study of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Program for Women and Girls (PWG) conducted by the Urban Institute between 1998 and 2000. Assesses the PWG's contributions to the field of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) education and gender equity. Concludes that the PWG successfully effected both positive,…

Randomly assigned first-year chemical engineering students to a treatment group using R.E.S.U.L.T.S. [copyright] study skills software and a comparison group. Examined pre-university and first-term academic performance, student goals, use of time, self assessments, and feedback. Although improvements in post-treatment performance were observed,…

Introduces a residential summer program, the New Experiences for Women in Science and Technology (Newton) Academy, which was developed to encourage high school girls' interest in the physical sciences and engineering. Reports the results of a follow-up evaluative study of the 1998 Newton Academy participants one year after participation. (Contains…

The status and experiences of women in science and engineering are discussed. Specifically highlighted is the situation at Hood College, Maryland, a school with a majority of female students. Strategies for encouraging female students to enter and continue in science majors and careers are suggested. (CW)