Presents instructions for building a simple interactive unit-cell construction kit that allows for the construction of simple, body-centered, and face-centered cubic lattices. The lit is built from inexpensive and readily available materials and can be built in any number of sizes. (WRM)

Reports on an innovation in Swedish teacher training that is attracting students taking courses on interdisciplinary thematic topics. Notes that unqualified teachers are teaching in the science disciplines of physics, chemistry, and biology. Provides three years worth of statistics on the number of applicants and admitted students in teacher…

Advocates teaching as a research-based activity. Describes the national curriculum in English Schools and compares it with curricular development in New Zealand. Recommends inservice training (InSET) to ensure teachers' confidence in presenting scientific ideas. (Contains 25 references.) (YDS)

Grounded theory may be used to bridge case studies and large-scale surveys as it enables the strengths of both to be combined in the same research program. Presents one example of the application of a grounded theory approach to research into science learning, and considers the generalizability of the research results. (Contains 33 references.)…

Outlines problems students have with understanding the abstract concept of chemical bonding as revealed in previous research. Describes the development of a two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic instrument for assessing alternative conceptions about chemical bonding held by 14-16 year olds. Discusses the instrument and its findings for a group of…

Describes a simple shopping game that provides an active and entertaining way for middle school students to appreciate what is meant by chemical formulae. (WRM)

Introduces the vast chemical resources available via the Internet. Lists guides to the Internet, chemistry resources on the Internet, chemical information resources, chemistry education resources, chemical industry-related sites, societies, and organizations. (WRM)

Describes a chemistry experiment that allows students to calculate rates of reaction, orders of reaction, and activation energies. The activity demonstrates that to increase a reaction's rate, a catalyst need only provide any additional pathway for the reaction, not necessarily a pathway having lower activation energy. (WRM)

As a case involving forgotten goggles shows, negligence lawsuits take a damaging toll in terms of money, time, emotion, and self-worth. Educators' best defense is consistently discharging their duties to students in a reasonable, prudent manner. Science teachers should secure all dangerous chemicals, provide adequate supervision, develop proper…

Presents strategies to motivate at-risk students to take advantage of campus remediation resources. Strategies include identifying and responding to these students through a study skills remediation program and improvements in the general chemistry course. (DDR)

Provides information on the use of a toy engine with no visible power source that is designed to demonstrate the conversion of low-temperature thermal energy to mechanical energy by means of a Nitinol loop wrapped around a system of two pulleys. (DDR)

Explores the development of children's conception of a substance and reports the findings in relation to children's understanding of boiling water and particle ideas. Argues that boiling water should have a broad significance in the curriculum. Contains 23 references. (DDR)

Faculty who introduce active learning methods often perceive striking changes in student competence. Describes an assessment strategy designed to determine whether such changes in student skills are observable by independent and unbiased observers. Contains 16 references. (DDR)

Presents a chemistry report on methamphetamine synthesis downloaded from the Internet and asks students to point out errors and answer questions about the text. Discusses the methods of methamphetamine synthesis and major issues in writing a case study. (YDS)

Uses questioning techniques to teach about caloric consumption and weight gain. Starts with defining questions about calories and includes the stages of measuring calories, analyzing data, and conducting inquiry research. Includes directions for the experiment. (YDS)