Humans have long wondered about life in the universe. Are we alone? Is Earth unique? What is it that makes our planet a habitable one, and are there others like Earth? NASA's Kepler Mission seeks the answers to these questions. Kepler is a space-based, specially designed 0.95 m aperture telescope. Launching in 2009, Kepler is NASA's first mission…

Explains uses of computer hardware when it's no longer needed to teach computer literacy. Describes a mini-lab pilot project which consists of several computers mounted on carts used similarly as audiovisual equipment. Lists advantages, disadvantages, and percentages of time used for instruction, interfacing, word processing, graphing, and…

Describes applications of bar coding technology that will help teachers to organize and energize their classrooms. Explains how bar codes--the black-and-white lines used for identification--are read and produced. Educational applications include their use in testing, equipment inventory, specimen identification, time keeping in experiments,…

The revolution in electronics is discussed as it applies to instructional potential in the school science laboratory. Electronic instruction (instrumentation) is included. (SA)

Explains how computer and game port interfacing reduces the time required for data collection and organization and also stimulates student interest in science laboratory exercises. Illustrates this approach through a description of a population-variation lab. Includes diagrams for the construction of the interface box. (ML)

Discussed are several suggestions for the maintenance of a science self-paced classroom. Topics include the use of computers for student self-assessment, teachers and students roles in the self-paced classroom, and laboratory setup and packaging in the self-paced science laboratory. (Author/DS)

Demonstrates how a spreadsheet program can do calculations, freeing students to question, analyze data and learn science. Notes several popular spreadsheet programs. Gives an example using Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets for a sampling experiment in Biology. Shows other examples of spreadsheet use in laboratory activities. (CW)

Introduces the unique interfacing equipment for measuring muscle strength over time. Explains the materials, setup method, operation, and typical display. Suggests other activities with which to utilize this device. (YP)

Describes a chemistry lab experiment in which a microcomputer is used to graph data. In the experiment a catalyst is used to decompose a commercial bleach. The computer's game port is used with a potentiometer to plot the volume of oxygen gas produced versus elapsed time. Courseware information is included. (TW)

Describes a "tracing the sun" worksheet combining models with computer programs and classroom discussion. Provides the worksheet including the nine steps of the activity and several discussion questions. (YP)