Reports on a study designed to reveal the contents of the conversations of two main age groups of primary children who visited three types of animal exhibits: (1) at a museum; (2) live animals at the zoo; and (3) animated dinosaurs and preserved animals. The results raise concerns about whether effective science teaching is occurring in these…

Conceptual understanding of chemistry is an important issue in chemistry education. Examination questions with word answers are one way of reinforcing and testing conceptual knowledge and should be included in chemistry courses. Students involved in this study felt they did better on numerical questions and poorer on conceptual questions than they…

Describes a Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) package covering biology concepts for an entire school year and evaluates the effect of this CAI on learning. Findings indicate positive effects of CAI on achievement and attitude. Contains 18 references. (JRH)

Presents a range of exciting ideas for encouraging active learning, for illuminating new concepts, and for making science lessons fun. Topics include modeling, matter, heat, diffusion, changes of state, heat transfer, energy changes, atomic structure, waves, gravity, enzymes, and habitats. (JRH)

Presents a rationale for including experiences that draw profound reactions of pleasure or revulsion in the science classroom. Provides some suggestions for using them effectively. Discusses content knowledge, process skills, language development, scientific attitudes, tips for using novel experiences, and marveling at mysteries. (JRH)

Investigates students' ideas about gravity beyond the earth's surface. Presents a lesson plan designed to help students understand that gravity can act beyond Earth's atmosphere. Also helps students gain a more adequate intuitive understanding of how natural and artificial satellites stay in orbit. Reports that this strategy changed some students'…

Describes a world-wide science project aiming to help students measure the absence of light. The project is accomplished through the Internet. On the first day of Spring, students from all over the world will measure their shadows (absence of light) and use the information to compare and contrast data with that of other students participating in…

Describes the use of manipulatives to teach the fundamental concept of limiting factors and presents a series of questions that can be used to test whether students are harboring some of the most common misconceptions about limiting factors. Includes applications to discussions of cultural eutrophication and vegetarianism. (JRH)

Reported are the results of a survey of undergraduate students regarding the knowledge and attitudes about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Survey methods, limitations, results, and implications are discussed. Results are compared with a previous survey to assess change over time. (CW)

The results of a study conducted with elementary school students in Tanzania are presented. A number of alternative conceptions were revealed. The role of sociocultural beliefs in forming these conceptions is described, and the implications of these findings for science teaching and teacher education are discussed. (Author/CW)

Discussed is the teaching of physics with an emphasis on the learning of concepts before problem solving. Examples of this approach are provided. (CW)

Presented is the position that the only goal for nonscience majors is scientific literacy, and that this goal can only be achieved through separate science courses for nonmajors. Two approaches to accomplish this and some issues of concern are examined. (KR)

Described is how crystal field theory and the angular overlap model can be applied to very simple molecules which can then be used to introduce such concepts as bonding orbitals, MO diagrams, and Walsh diagrams. The main-group compounds are used as examples and a switch to the transition metal complexes. (KR)

Describes activities for developing mathematical and science process skills using the labels on food packages. Provides objectives, rationale, lesson outlines, procedures, worksheets, evaluation, teacher notes, extensions, and student worksheets for the activities. (YP)

Uses reversible electrochemical cells near equilibrium to study basic thermodynamic concepts such as maximum work and free energy. Selects sealed, miniature, commercial cells to obtain accurate measurement of enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy. (MVL)