Biology and mathematics are inextricably linked. In this article, we show a few of the many areas in which this linkage might be made explicit. By doing so, teachers can deepen students' understanding and appreciation of both subjects. In this article, we explore some of these areas, providing brief explanations of the mathematics and some of the…

When describing activities in today's K-12 science classrooms, the word inquiry often causes some confusion. As a result, many of us find ourselves asking the same questions: How do we know when inquiry is authentic? What should happen in an inquiry-centered science classroom? What is the teacher's role in an inquiry-centered class and what is the…

Concepts to be developed, objectives, and student instructions are provided for an activity useful as an introduction to or review of Mendelian genetics and sex determination. Universal codes (read by optical scanners at supermarket checkout stands) from soup can labels are used as chromosome maps during the activity. (JN)

The Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards, two classic documents has made three strong recommendations about how students at all ages should be learning biology. The recommendations include reducing the number of concepts that are taught in a biology course, emphasizing on having students learn the methods of…

Determined relative effects of rhetorical, factual, valuing, and hypothesizing question types when these questions were interspersed throughout the reading passage in textual materials for students (N=383) in introductory biology. Reported results are based on a 20-item test given immediately after reading the passage, 2 weeks later, and 9 weeks…

Describes a science activity entitled "Investigating Fermentation," which uses a digital camera for data collection purposes. Uses a standards-based inquiry approach and explains the procedure. (YDS)

This paper describes a preparation program in which 16 high school biology teachers in widely diverse settings across the country have successfully implemented a new standards-based biology curriculum, "Biology: A Community Context" (BACC), written by W.H. Leonard and J.E. Penick. During the summer of 1997, these 16 teachers were given an…

Presents the "extended discretion" approach as another dimension to conventional biology laboratory investigations. Results of a study comparing this approach to BSCS investigations indicate that tenth-grade students can handle increased discretionary demands related to their learning activities, thus encouraging responsibility and…

Presents an activity called "The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, Founder Effect, and Evolution" to allow students to learn about evolution in an engaging, constructivist manner. The activity also uses the tools of mathematics to learn several related biology concepts. (Author/SOE)

Described is the Textbook Questioning Strategies Assessment Instrument and its utilization by teachers in the selection of a secondary level biology textbook. (SL)

This investigation tested in a university setting a laboratory teaching approach found to be productive in high school settings. The extended discretion approach (ED) gives the student a task, from two to five brief procedural steps, and a list of resources from which to choose. The student must exercise discretion in the use of available…

Examines college students' perception of an interactive videodisc learning system as an alternative to the conventional laboratory for learning biology skills and concepts taught under classroom laboratory conditions. Reports that the videodisc instruction gave more experimental and procedural options and more efficient use of time than the…

This was an experiment to test the extended discretion laboratory approach versus a guided-inquiry approach for teaching biology in a university setting. Among three criterion variables (examination, reports, and quizzes), only the laboratory report scores showed differences between groups and group-by-instructor interaction. (Author/YP)

Describes a Standards-based activity entitled "The Limits of Learning" that is inquiry-based and designed for high school biology classes. The activity concerns how well repetitious material can be learned and improved upon. (YDS)

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of both the instrumentation and the software of an emerging, high-technology system used for science instruction. A marriage of computer and television technologies has evolved into an exciting new learning system called interactive videodisc instruction. The development of the hardware…