Advances six practical suggestions in transpiration whereby teachers can support students in their struggle to put their thoughts, especially everyday mental models, in accordance with classroom experimental evidence. Discusses the wider implications for how to teach about living things and how to view the status of analogies in science generally.…

A compact disc (CD) serves as a diffraction grating for the study of the dependence of angles of diffracted beams on that of the incident beam from a laser. The demonstration/experiment illustrates the occurrence of different orders of diffraction. Knowledge of the wavelength of the laser permits determination of the groove spacing within ~1% by…

Describes an investigation into the photosynthetic potential of the different developmental stages of the green unicellular alga Haematococcus pluvialis. Reviews the biotechnological applications of astaxanthin, the red pigment which can be extracted from Haematococcus pluvialis. (Author/MM)

Introduces an entry level mineralogy/igneous petrology course designed for undergraduate students and presents a series of learning activities based on individual and cooperative learning. Includes 18 references. (Author/YDS)

Describes the use of a graphing calculator-based laboratory (CBL) device that provides a portable data-collection system that students at high school and college levels can use to conduct projects in chemistry. Reviews possible uses for CBL in a chemistry program. (Author/CCM)

Provides information to help students easily measure gravitational field strength to a few parts in 10,000, a degree of precision 1-2 orders of magnitude better than can be achieved with the simple pendulum. (CCM)

Presents an approach for students to grasp the series RLC circuit that involves a virtual four-channel oscilloscope installed on a laptop computer. (CCM)

Claims that the technology required to produce common products can serve as the basis for student research projects. Describes the process for the creation of rayon from cellulose as a joint teacher/student investigation. (CCM)

Explores simple equations such as the exponential decay function, a terminal velocity situation, and the more complex situations of the simple harmonic oscillator and damped oscillations. (Author/CCM)

Reports on group conceptions of magnetism. (Author/CCM)

Presents a research project in which the nature and extent of the misunderstanding of moles is quantified. Outlines a design and the implementation of a set of activities to promote conceptual change in this area. (CCM)

Suggests a range of questions and some strategies for developing resources that will lead to the use of equipment in primary science by teachers and children. (Author/CCM)

Analyzed the scientific-inquiry studies of 22 high school physics students for operational rules as they physically and mentally manipulated materials over 9 weeks. The study found six operational rules and determined that scientific activity could be described in terms of structural transformational rules and in terms of behavior, information,…

Experiments in an accelerating frame are hard to perform. Illustrates how simple computer software allows sufficiently rapid and accurate measurements to be made on an arrangement of weights and pulleys known as Atwood's machine. (Author/CCM)

Provides a hands-on unit of activities in which students learn to observe, measure, classify, predict, infer, communicate, and investigate using pickles. (CCM)