Given the challenges facing higher education in the fast-changing educational and social environment, what can be learned from an instructor who has braved the rapidly changing stream of technologies and has subsequently developed a personal and productive approach to using emerging technologies to teach better and farther? What aspects of…

The development of inquiry and project-based materials is challenging in many ways, not the least of which is the design of supports for teachers implementing such materials. We report on the design of educative and just-in-time teacher supports for an online project-based unit in ocean science. The teacher supports were visible as tabs on the…

Explores the conceptual change of two classes of grade 10 students (n=48) in their genetics learning in an Australian girls' school that uses laptop computers. The study used an interpretive, case-based design with multiple data collection methods and a multidimensional conceptual change framework. Over seven weeks, the students learned genetics…

Discusses student and teacher perceptions of a new development in the use of the predict-observe-explain (POE) strategy. This development involves the incorporation of POE tasks into a multimedia computer program that uses real-life, digital video clips of difficult, expensive, time consuming, or dangerous scenarios as stimuli for these tasks.…

Describes three websites that feature resources for science teachers, students, and department heads. The first allows teachers to design their own online worksheets, the second contains a collection of science-related images, and the third focuses on issues related to the running, organization, and management of science departments. (WRM)

This article presents a review of the literature on multimedia learning in science. It is no small matter that teachers value using technology, more specifically multimedia, in teaching. But this interest falls far short when it comes to application. Why is it so? This article tries to find the reasons behind this dichotomy. Then, research from…

Reports on a case study that examines the teaching and learning impact of technology from the perspective of students participating in a long-term study of technology implementation. The study is situated within the context of the Technology Enhanced Secondary Science Instruction (TESSI) project. Contains 65 references. (DDR)

Reports on a pilot study investigating 22 11-13 year old students' preferences for and interests in using animation and video when viewing examples of melting, boiling, and dissolving. (Author/MM)

Learner-centered software design (LCSD) guides the design of tasks, tools, and interfaces in order to support the unique needs of learners: growth, diversity and motivation. This paper presents a framework for LCSD and describes a case study of its application to the ScienceWare Model-It, a learner-centered tool to support scientific modeling and…

Describes uses for new technologies in teacher professional development. The paper examines literature on teacher knowledge and professional development; discusses how research can inform design of three types of technology to support teacher learning (multimedia, productivity tools, and telecommunication information systems); investigates how…

The Unit Operations Laboratory offers 2 courses in unit operations. One is a 2-semester course for chemistry and food engineering students that is more demanding because it considers more unit operations and places more emphasis on solving exercises. The other is a 1-semester course for chemistry and pharmacy students that considers fewer unit…

The state government of West Virginia has been motivating a reform of high school science and technology education by actively funding projects that lead to innovative computer-based teaching techniques. Faculties at Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia) have been active participants in this reform, and have been developing…

Discusses an innovative process that was used for engaging prospective teachers in collaboration and reflection on their learning as they developed a multi-media portfolio. (Contains 15 references.) (WRM)

Describes the integration of Interactive Multimedia Experiences (IMMEX) software into 10th-grade biology classes. IMMEX allows teachers to custom design and author their own simulations which can then be used to provide students with problem-solving and critical-thinking opportunities. Student problem-solving skills can be tracked through a…

This table illustrates when, why, and how computer-based information technology best lends itself to learning in science classrooms. It aims to illustrate the potential of this technology and some of the thinking and planning that is necessary for successful, effective classroom use. Application types include data collecting devices, spreadsheets,…