Evaluated was achievement by college freshman students in a chemistry laboratory course. Twenty-eight sections, a total of 292 students, were grouped into six sections with written direction in a structured laboratory experiment schedule, six sections with verbal direction in a structured schedule, and sixteen sections with an unstructured…

The construction and validation of a learning hierarchy designed to assist instruction in the skills of science hypothesis formation and testing are described. Results of the validation using prospective elementary teachers are described, and the revised hierarchy is presented. Revalidation results for a different group of teacher trainees are…

Presents the opinion that the learning environment of recitation classes can be vastly improved if instructors pay attention to some basic learning principles. Summarizes these learning principles and presents a specific example of their application. (GS)

Derives the general Doppler formula in a nonstatic universe using assumptions of special relativity, homogeneity and isotropy of the universe. Examples of applications to physical cosmology are given. (SL)

REPORTED IS A STUDY WHICH (1) ANALYZED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A TEACHING METHOD DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT'S SCIENCE PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY, AND (2) INVESTIGATED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS MEASURED AND THE STUDENT'S SCIENCE BACKGROUND, CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY, AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE. CONCLUDED WAS (1) THAT THE…

This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of a teaching approach on the students' ability to demonstrate and retain specific behaviors of science inquiry skill in the attainment of critical thinking ability in problem-solving situations. The sample consisted of 318 first-year liberal arts, chemistry students who were assigned to three groups,…

Presents compact algorithms, suitable for use with hand held calculators, for the calculation of potentiometric titration curves. (SL)

Presents an exact equation for calculating the volume of titrant as a function of the hydrogen ion concentration suitable for calculation on a hand held calculator. (SL)

Presents a convenient notation for powers of ten and logarithms, a demonstration of the nonstoichiometry of nickel oxide, a simplification for obtaining Russell-Saunders term symbols, and a scheme for biochemistry laboratory experiments. (SL)

Uses the Dresden and Feiock quantum mechanical Kac ring pedagogical model to illustrate formal results and approximation limitations of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. (SL)

Describes the rise of the systematic method of tackling problems of multiple equilibria to calculate the complete titration curves for acids and bases. (SL)