Lab components of undergraduate science courses typically have students complete highly directed cookbook-like laboratory activities. These experiences rarely engage students in a meaningful manner and do not accurately convey what the work of science entails. With funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), we have created more…

We present the most recent steps undertaken to reform the introductory algebra-based course at The George Washington University. The reform sought to help students improve their problem-solving performance. Our pedagogy relies on didactic constructs such as the" GW-ACCESS problem-solving protocol," "instructional sequences" and…

As Drew University in New Jersey illustrates, such old standbys as chemistry and physics are making a comeback in the small colleges. (Editor)

Modules of physics instructional materials, each focusing on a particular physical system of interest to technical students, are being developed at four separate centers and coordinated by a Technical Physics Project Steering Committee. A typical module, constituting from one to three weeks of a physics course, will include a statement of…

THIS SPECIAL ISSUE OF "PHYSICS TODAY" REVIEWS THE STATUS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSICS, AS WELL AS COLLEGE PHYSICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE. SECONDARY LEVEL PROJECTS INCLUDE PHYSICAL SCIENCE STUDY COMMITTEE PHYSICS, HARVARD PROJECT PHYSICS, THE ENGINEERING CONCEPTS CURRICULUM PROJECT, AND THE NUFFIELD PROJECT. THOSE AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL…

The operation of the Hall of Science as a museum and as an educational center is noted. Descriptions of 30 science education projects currently underway are provided. (CP)

Discusses use of the modified Keller method to teach three semesters of physics courses to groups of 10-12 students. Indicates student performance is markedly improved on the final examinations. (CC)

This report is the first of three volumes which summarize the results of a comprehensive evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Local Course Improvement (LOCI) program. Included are college teacher perceived needs of course improvement, profile of applicants for LOCI awards, appropriateness of program guidelines, and outcomes of LOCI…

This report is the second of three volumes describing the results of the evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Local Course Improvement (LOCI) program. This volume describes the quantitative results of the program. Evaluation of the LOCI program involved answering questions in the areas of the need for science course improvement as…

Presented are the author's impressions of the status of chemical education during the period from the mid-fifties to late sixties. (HM)

Fourteen basic experiments in mechanical engineering, intended for use at the sophomore level, are presented. The experiments are described as open-ended in order to give students the opportunity to discover the importance of stable operating conditions. The concept of experimentation is introduced and there is an interrelation between theory and…

This is the final report of the Physical Science for Nonscience Students (PSNS) development project. The report includes five major topics and five appendices. The first section, the History of Organizational Activities, discusses the conferences in 1963-64 that initiated the planning of the course. The remaining sections include Administration,…