Titration is an important experimental skill that every chemistry educator and learner must master. Titration is often the method of choice in the science laboratory courses in secondary and postsecondary schools. During acid-base titration, chemistry learners are always told about salt formation. However, a practical visualization of the salt…

In Life Sciences education internationally, including South Africa, the study of animal and organ morphology has traditionally involved dissections since the early nineteenth century. The major purpose of this study was to investigate how the engagement of learners with animal organ dissections may influence the development of problem-solving…

The near-peer mentor model provides undergraduates and recent post-baccalaureates in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields with an internship in two related disciplines, STEM research and STEM education. The near-peer mentor is both a mentored research intern and a mentor to pre-college students. During the 2013…

As advances in biotechnology and molecular biology rapidly expand in research settings, it is vital that we continue to prepare high school students to enter and thrive in those modern laboratories. This multistep, inquiry-based lab describes highly adaptable methods to teach students not only current molecular techniques and technologies, but…

To involve students in thinking about the problem of AIDS (which is important in the view of nondecreasing infection rates), we established a practical lab using a simplified adaptation of Thomas's (2004) method to determine the polymorphism of HIV co-receptor CCR5 from students' own epithelial cells. CCR5 is a receptor involved in inflammatory…

A study of modern genetics requires students to successfully unite the principles of Mendelian genetics with the functions of DNA. Traditional means of teaching genetics are often successful in teaching Mendelian and molecular ideas but not in allowing students to see how the two subjects relate. The laboratory module presented here attempts to…

This study investigated Ontario science and biology teachers' practices and attitudes toward animal dissection and dissection alternatives. The data was collected through a mixed methods approach involving online surveys (n = 153) and subsequent telephone interviews (n = 9) with secondary school science and biology teachers. The findings indicate…

The speed of sound is a physical property that can be measured easily in the lab. However, finding an inexpensive and intuitive way for students to determine this speed has been more involved. The introduction of affordable consumer-grade high-speed cameras (such as the Exilim EX-FC100) makes conceptually simple experiments feasible. Since the…

Many topics in the secondary science classroom can be difficult to introduce to students in a manner that fully engages them, especially when presented using traditional teaching methods. However, with a little innovation and an emphasis on inquiry, even dry subjects can be presented in an appealing way. The authors developed an inquiry-based…

Given is a rationale for using science demonstrations. The development and characteristics of successful demonstrations are presented. An illustration is given in the area of microbiology. A rating sheet is included. (CW)

This paper proposes a technique for using the digital computer in science instruction (grades 1-12) which may well obviate the constraints of unreasonable cost and demand for complex and extensive software. Computer Simulated Experiments require a short amount of time at the terminal during which the student collects realistic simulated data.…

Includes methods for using harmonographs in demonstrating motion of pendulums, constructing an electrostatic "bell," inverting mirror images, demonstrating the corrosion rate of steel, demonstrating expansion, studying rate of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid, using matchboxes in science for containers, problem boxes, building…