The reduction of nitroarenes to anilines is a key transformation with real-life context, central to the preparation of many important fine chemicals. The importance of this transformation has led to its inclusion in not only university organic chemistry courses but also preuniversity, especially in Europe. A variety of reagent combinations have…

Polymers are part of our lives; scientists dedicated to polymer science design new materials thinking about more eco-friendly methodologies and satisfying people's needs. In most universities, polymer science is taught by academics associated with the traditional chemistry departments (organic, analytical, physical, and inorganic chemistry). In…

We review the state of genetics instruction in the United States through the lens of backward design, with particular attention to the goals and assessments that inform curricular practice. An analysis of syllabi and leading textbooks indicates that genetics instruction focuses most strongly on foundations of DNA and Mendelian genetics. At the…

Interest in student conception of experimentation inspired the development of a fully validated 14-question inventory on experimental design in biology (BEDCI) by following established best practices in concept inventory (CI) design. This CI can be used to diagnose specific examples of non-expert-like thinking in students and to evaluate the…

The number of experimentally derived structures of cellular components is rapidly expanding, and this phenomenon is accompanied by the development of a new semiotic system for teaching. The infographic approach is shifting from a schematic toward a more realistic representation of cellular components. By realistic we mean artist-prepared or…

Inquiry-driven lab exercises require students to think carefully about a question, carry out an investigation of that question, and critically analyze the results of their investigation. Here, we describe the implementation and assessment of an inquiry-based laboratory exercise in which students obtain and analyze novel data that contribute to our…

A description of a one-semester college course with an enrollment of over 1,000 which has been taught for eight years. Success is based on the presentation in nonmathematical language, emphasis on the relationship of physics to students' everyday environment, and lack of laboratories. (DF)

Discusses the roots of Chinese science in Taoism and naturalism and their synthesis in neo-Confucism in the Sung dynasty. Briefly mentions relations with the West. Specifically cites Chinese acoustical science and discoveries in magnetism. Includes a syllabus for a course. (GH)

Describes a 14 unit remedial chemistry course which offers a traditional lecture approach and a Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) approach for preparing students a traditional chemistry sequence. (SL)

Describes a new, unified approach to introductory physics based on the conservation laws. classical and quantum physics are presented together as different levels of a unified and consistent description of the world. This approach has been used for the last 3 years as the first course in general physics for science and engineering students at…

Describes an approach which begins with observations and systems familiar to the student and proceeds to develop and test models to explain them. Experimental topics include Brownian motion, a germinating cell, phase change of p-dichlorobenzene, extension and contraction of rubber, and an enzyme system. (GS)