In "Belonging and Identity in STEM Higher Education," leading scholars, teachers, practitioners and students explore belonging and identity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, and how this is impacted by disciplinary changes and the post-pandemic higher education context. In STEM fields, positivist…

Recent science reform documents have called for incorporating authentic scientific discourse into science classes as engaging in discourse has shown to result in numerous benefits. Whether these benefits are observed in students depends upon the quality of the discourse in which they engage. However, characterizing the quality of student-student…

Problem-based learning, process-oriented guided inquiry learning, and peer-led team learning are student-centered, active-learning pedagogies commonly used in science education. The characteristic features of each are compared and contrasted to enable new practitioners to decide which approach or combination of approaches will suit their…

Shares excellent quotes that can be used in the classroom to enliven or punctuate a topic of discussion. (ZWH)

The case study technique allows students to understand the social impact of science-related decisions; it lets them experience historic events as recorded when they occurred. Presented are tips for developing case studies as well as two examples suitable for use in college science classrooms. (JN)

Discusses dimensions of a learning style model and proposes instructional methods that should reach students who span the spectrum of learning styles. (PR)

Examines several variables that may interact to affect the success of writing in science courses and provides some student views on these assignments. (PR)

Both teachers and students alike acknowledge that genetics and genetics problem-solving are extremely difficult to learn and to teach. Therefore, a number of recommendations for teaching college genetics are offered. Although few of these ideas have as yet been tested in controlled experiments, they are supported by research and experience and may…

Voltammetry is used as a model for teaching chemical instrumentation to chemistry undergraduates at the National University of Singapore. Lists six criteria used to select a successful teaching model and shows how voltammetry satisfies each criterion. (JN)

Describes a new way of quantifying organic oxidation-reduction reactions that extends the traditional method of assigning oxidation numbers by replacing them with NORM's (Number of Oxidations Relative to Methylene). This modification allows the system to be applied to more complex examples without the cumbersomeness inherent in the original…

Summarizes a symposium which focused on the problems with declining performance in the introductory organic chemistry course, analysis of their causes, and suggestions for overcoming them. Symposium attendees included 65 organic chemistry teachers from two- and four-year institutions in Nebraska and neighboring states. (JN)

Discusses several aspects of the relationship between teaching and learning in a way that may possibly stimulate thinking in the same manner as learning hierarchies, stage theory, and the abundant use of metaphor. (Author/JN)

Describes a simple and effective method in which students use their hands, arms, and fingers to determine absolute configurations. (JN)

Describes an approach which provides a basis for developing skills in interpreting infrared spectra and gives students a methodology which is functional without having to match "problem" spectra with "published" spectra. In addition, the suggested approach is reinforced easily by laboratory exercises involving known or unknown…

Describes how to use playing cards as simulators to demonstrate several aspects of allelism and allele frequency in a gene pool. They provide an "unexpected" result, promote group discussion and may stimulate students to devise variations for comparison. (BR)