This is a copy of the script for the electrical relationships unit in an auto-tutorial physical science course for non-science majors, offered at the University of Maine at Orono. The unit includes 15 simple experiments designed to allow the student to discover various fundamental electrical relationships. The student has the option of reading the…

Describes a remedial college course in which discovery-based teaching and physical models are employed to teach students how to think. Discusses program content, program structure, program goals, results of the course, and the impact on student success in future science and math courses. (DKM)

Presents an inexpensive take-home laboratory activity designed to enhance students understanding of atmospheric pressure by allowing them to engage in a hands-on, discovery approach to physics. (ZWH)

This study seeks to establish which scientific reasoning skills are primarily domain-general and which appear to be domain-specific. The subjects, 12 university undergraduates, each participated in self-directed experimentation with three different content domains. The experimentation contexts were computer-based laboratories in d.c. circuits…

Describes a laboratory course in Physical Geology designed to encourage students to ask their own questions and to develop and test their own answers. The essence of this approach lies in providing a minimum of preconditioning before the exercises. (MLH)

Describes how the synthesis of urea, 150 years ago, was a major factor in breaking the artificial barrier that existed between organic and inorganic chemistry, and this contributed to the rapid growth of organic chemistry. (GA)

Describes a laboratory notebook designed for junior and senior college students for a fish taxonomy course. Discusses the benefits of drawing and close observation on students' learning. (Contains 15 references.) (YDS)

Reports on a first-year laboratory sequence known as the Interdisciplinary Laboratory (ID Lab) introduced at Harvey Mudd College. The course seeks to illustrate commonality of investigative methods and laboratory techniques in biology, chemistry, and physics and introduce discipline-specific principles. Provides details of the experiments…

Reports on the evaluation of an earth science inservice program designed to (1) improve teachers' understandings of principles and concepts, (2) assist teachers in the use of investigatory techniques for teaching, (3) assist teachers in developing and implementing laboratory-oriented courses and (4) instruct teachers in techniques of self…

Describes a laboratory course, modeled on the approach developed by Robert Karplus for physics laboratory courses, emphasizing discovery learning. (SK)

Examines the prospect of facilitating the discovery process for scientific researchers through anticipatory learning that is viewed as critical to the enhancement of intuitive abilities in pattern recognition among researchers. Discusses intuition, metaphorical thinking, and aesthetics as playing significant roles in the development of pattern…

One of the goals of developing a new chemistry courses is to foster positive student attitudes toward chemistry and to capitalize on both positive and negative experience in helping students to see how teachers can influence students' interests in science with inquiry-based and discovery learning. Additionally the courses are conclusively helpful…

Compared effect of six instructional strategies (discovery, two expository lessons, prototype development, interrogatory, and combination of interrogatory/prototype development) on concept learning of college students (N=230). Results suggest use of prototype developmental method alone or in combination with interrogatory method if high levels of…

This study investigated what constitutes exploratory learning and what effects instructional support measures have on it. Among the conclusions were that students were reluctant to apply learning processes that are considered characteristic for exploratory learning. Students had problems with the process, especially with the process of generating…