Teaching the periodic table is a central part of chemistry. This might involve memorizing the symbols of the elements, learning about the properties of the families, or understanding its general organization. This year, The International Year of the Periodic Table, marks its 150th anniversary, and represents a good opportunity to highlight its…

Secondary school biology teachers constantly face the challenge of finding ways to connect students with topics that are engaging and relevant to them. In-vitro fertilization and other assisted reproductive technologies are increasingly common medical practices that students may hear about in their lives outside of school, whether from hearing…

A kinesthetic technique for learning to recognize elements and compounds is presented in this article. The current common pedagogy appears to merge recognition and implementation into one naming method. A separate recognition skill is critical to students being able to correctly name and write the formulas of compounds. This article focuses on…

Switching genes between organisms and controlling an animal's brain using lasers may seem like science fiction, but with advancements in a technique called optogenetics, such experiments are now common in neuroscience research. Optogenetics combines recombinant DNA technology with a controlled light source to help researchers address…

A "Framework for K-12 Science Education" (NRC 2012) and subsequent "Next Generation Science Standards" (Achieve Inc. 2013) will substantially influence the teaching and learning of science in the United States. The "Framework," for example, calls for students to learn about several practices related to scientific…

The study of polar exploration is fascinating and offers students insights into the history, culture, and politics that affect the developing sciences at the farthest ends of Earth. Therefore, the authors think there is value in incorporating polar exploration accounts within modern science classrooms, and so they conducted research to test their…

Self-regulated learning (SRL) encourages students to learn using metacognition, strategic action, and motivation. This nontraditional approach to education relies on the student's active role in learning and the instructor's facilitatory role in teaching. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of an SRL instructional model the author…

Teacher research--often called "action research"--is an intentional and systematic inquiry into one's own classroom practice with the goal of improved student learning (Cochran-Smith and Lytle 1993). In this article, the authors present a teacher research project undertaken to improve student understanding of the gas laws in a high…

Investigates whether being a member of a professional organization positively affects educators' teaching practices. Aims to understand the factors affecting teachers' professional conduct and uses this information to create new and better methods for teacher education. Focuses on the relationship between membership benefits and classroom…

Discusses the ninth-grade trial implementation of the Scope, Sequence, and Coordination (SS&C) project and compares this class with the non-SS&C class that preceded it. Reports that the project helped teachers create a more inquiry-oriented learning environment and helped students perform at least as well as non-SS&C students on…

Problem solving is defined and characteristics of good problem solvers are highlighted. The cognitive processes used in problem solving are discussed. Suggestions for methods which can be used to teach problem solving are provided. Research implications from mathematics education are listed. (CW)

Discussed is the underrepresentation of women in higher education and science-related jobs and possible causes for the inequity. The implication for teachers, the feminine perspective, and classroom barriers are emphasized. (KR)