Presents an interview protocol used to identify and evaluate students' conceptions of plants which is an invitation to participate in the third national study exploring elementary students' science conceptions. (YDS)

Describes changes initiated in the Level-Three laboratory course of the chemical engineering curriculum at the University of Adelaide that were useful in fostering higher-level skills and reducing the reliance on reports handed down from previous years. Highlights report writing and data analysis workshops and the laboratory project design…

Describes the results of a study on the similarities and differences in laboratory tasks used in science education at upper secondary school and university level in the three main science subjects in seven European countries. Some differences are noted between the science subjects and educational levels, but the dominant impression of the analysis…

Examines the psychology of learning and its application to work in the laboratory. States that the working memory capacity of students is limited; therefore the amount of information they can process needs to be controlled and "recipe following" in the laboratory is perfectly reasonable. (RT)

Examines the usefulness of cyclic voltammetry to the determination of a complex compound's stoichiometry. Discusses the experimental design, laboratory equipment, and results. (CW)

Describes a survey of the views of students, teachers, advisers, and inspectors on school science at key stages 3 and 4 (11-16 year-olds) in the United Kingdom. Finds a mismatch between the intended purposes of the Science National Curriculum and supporting documentation, and its translation into classroom practice. (Author/WRM)

Describes a method to detect the presence of microgram quantities of nearly any metal in samples of alloys, minerals, water, and air. This chemical-spot testing technique requires no elaborate equipment and can be done by an amateur. (SK)

Reports on a study which investigated the effects of having students analyze circuits in the laboratory compared with troubleshooting from homework problems. Results indicated that laboratory experiences provide a richer learning experience than lecture and homework alone. (TW)

The Prime Minister's Committee on Natural Science in Education in Great Britain reported in 1918 that "...in many schools more time is spent in laboratory work than the results obtained can justify." Seventy years later this conclusion can often still be drawn. This is particularly a problem in open distance education where laboratory practicals,…

Reports on a study into the effectiveness of implementing an interactive videodisc science lesson on titration into a high school science program. Describes the titration lesson and the equipment used in two chemistry classes. Results were generated from achievement and attitude instruments, along with observational data. (TW)