This study investigated whether participation in a 1-semester science course for college students who are not majoring in the natural sciences could increase their scientific literacy, confidence in doing science and improve their perception of science and scientists. The study was conducted at a small, 4-year, liberal arts institution in Portland…

Liberal arts programs encompass a range of academic disciplines, and their effectiveness relies not only on what these disciplines are, but also on how they are integrated. The natural sciences are one important component of liberal arts programs that may be difficult to assimilate with the rest of the curriculum. In this paper, the topic of…

For over 4 decades, educational researchers have been studying best practices for introducing writing into the curriculum. One successful strategy, a low-stakes writing exercise called "writing to learn" (WTL), has been implemented across several disciplines within higher education. In light of a growing interest in the use of technology…

The Toxics Geography Exercise was developed as an application-oriented exercise to develop skills in critical analysis in groups of undergraduate students from widely diverse academic backgrounds. Students use publicly available data on industrial activities, history of toxic material disposal, basic chemistry, regulatory approaches of federal and…

Primary research articles discuss aspects of scientific inquiry that are important in understanding the nature of science. Yet, most introductory science courses use textbooks that ignore the scientific process; opportunities for explicit discussion of the nature of science are lost. In Hampshire College's science program, students read current…

To address the low priority given to university-level outreach, the authors created an outreach program that makes it easy for scientists to connect with the public, while at the same time providing effective transfer of scientific research results to the public and the K-12 community. The result is a program called the Hot Science--Cool Talks…

Forensic science education has evolved as an interdisciplinary science that includes medicine, chemistry, biology, and criminal justice. Therefore, multiple paths can lead to a career in forensic science. A formal education usually requires the student to attend a college or university to obtain a bachelor's or master's degree. In many cases,…

This article presents a framework for a geomicrobiology course design that has produced impressive gains in students' contextual knowledge (e.g., Felder and Brent 2004a). The approach centers on the design and execution of a research experiment for students to (a) increase their understanding and application of the scientific method, (b) practice…

An interdisciplinary team of science and education faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago and several Chicago-area community colleges developed and implemented a series of four integrated, inquiry-based science courses for preservice elementary school teachers. All four courses are based on guiding principles taken from the rich…

To adequately prepare future faculty for their multiple roles as researchers, teachers, and colleagues, innovative teaching opportunities must be made available to doctoral students that allow them to maintain a high level of research productivity while acquiring independent teaching experience and training. A new program is developed that offers…

Provides tips for planning a field trip. Includes the following sections: (1) Defining the field trip; (2) Role of the instructor; (3) Preparing students for the field trip; (4) Allocating time; (5) Transportation; (6) Keeping students involved; (7) Division of labor; (8) Equipment; (9) Behavioral rules; (10) Medical emergencies; and (11) Special…

Describes a natural science program that offers twenty-five or more different topics each semester. Presents examples of the topics available and outlines the advantages of this approach. (GS)

Reported are some investigations of the use of discovery learning techniques on retention. (PEB)

This article describes a field biology course specifically designed for students planning to teach in the elementary or middle-level grades. The fundamental goal of the course is to improve students' science literacy and enhance their ability to apply science concepts in the classroom.

Describes a positive approach toward open-admissions policy taken by a new department in Interdisciplinary Science. The program is built on the strengths of its students and focuses on scientific problems of current importance that can be used to sharpen the student's analytical abilities and develop basic skills and concepts. (Author/EB)