Graduates' retrospective program evaluations can provide relevant and reliable feedback on an institutions' performance in delivering quality instruction and services to its students. This descriptive survey research ascertains graduates' evaluations of science education program areas, including curriculum adequacy and relevance. Study…

In this article, we describe a simplified approach to teach students to assess information obtained from diverse sources. Three broad categories (credibility, content, and currency; 3C) were used to evaluate information from textbooks, monographs, popular magazines, scholarly journals, and the World Wide Web. This 3C approach used in an inquiry…

Described are several physics activities developed by a high school: research corner, exploring an invention, construction projects, archives report and archives update, short term research and design projects, essay contest, and special projects. (YP)

Outlines the authors' experiences with designing and teaching a course on the nature of science to science education graduate students. Addresses questions on the creation of a new university course, the design of the course syllabus, and the transformation of the syllabus into instruction. (AIM)

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis developed the Weekend College, a program specially planned for working adult learners. Describes this program (which offers courses on Saturdays and Sundays) and a five-credit laboratory course in human physiology. Instructional strategies used and advantages/disadvantages of weekend courses are…

Describes a program developed to: increase numbers of physics teachers; provide additional training in physics to teachers who needed it; further stimulate high school teachers; and to serve as resource center. Offers ideas and encouragement to other colleges and universities in rural settings who wish to create such a program. (JM)

Summarizes major features and broad principles of design determined by the editorial panel of the Australian Academy of Science School Chemistry Project. Features discussed include roles of practical work, theory text and laboratory manual, structure of materials, subdivisions of content in text, writing, and appeals for assistance in the project.…

Described is a program in applied chemistry within a classical chemistry department of a university located in a Third World country. The course was designed to provide student with knowledge and skills used by chemists in Jamaican industry. Summer employment is required as part of the program. (DS)

Encouraging scientific thinking through open-ended experiments, allowing students access to common chemical instrumentation, and introduction to laboratory techniques are goals of a high school science laboratory program. Course content (general, inorganic, and organic chemistry), limitations, and course evaluation are discussed. (Author/JN)

Explains a summer research program which is a part of a required junior and senior independent study program. Provides information on selection of applicants, activities, outcomes, and a list of names and student projects. (RT)

Provides a point of view that the organic lab is a good place for the student to use and learn problem solving skills while performing the cookbook experiments. Notes that an equilibrium between the theoretical and practical aspects of organic chemistry should be established. (MVL)

Describes characteristics of and instructional strategies related to an applied physics course offered by the New South Wales Institute of Technology in Sydney. The course has a number of unique features which enable its students to be of immediate use to industry upon graduation. (JN)

Provides details of writing assignments used in science and technology classes. Students select a technology, research its historical development, and then comment on the use of the technology. A list of concepts that are distributed to students is included. (DDR)

Describes a project sponsored by the Association for Science Education (ASE) that has proved successful and is now known as Science across the World. This project aims at linking schools in all parts of the globe. Describes how Science across the World works and reports on the evaluation of its use. (DDR)

Describes a laboratory course on lasers for high school teachers. Suggests that more students could be reached by having teachers take such a course than teaching students directly. Lasers were lent for experimentation in high schools; teachers were invited to bring classes to the university to see research lasers. (Author/JN