Explains the development of an interdisciplinary unit in which students learn basic chemistry and laboratory techniques while practicing English, mathematics, art, social studies, and leadership skills. Includes details about lab activities, assessment strategies, and science extensions. (DDR)

Details how a spreadsheet with graphics capabilities can be used to illustrate enzyme kinetics and explain how computer simulation of a reaction mechanism is accomplished. (DDR)

The Applications in Biology/Chemistry (ABC) curriculum is a real-world approach designed for the middle 50% of secondary students who may not learn in a predominantly abstract way. Stressing contextual and cooperative learning, ABC features 10 laboratory exercises and other hands-on, problem-solving activities involving visits to job sites and…

A study compared the teaching behaviors of University of Tel Aviv (Israel) physics and chemistry faculty over two consecutive years, at mid- and end-semester. Findings indicate a high degree of stability in behaviors over time, with no clear-cut improvement during a semester except for faculty undertaking special instructional improvement…

Describes efforts to include cooperative learning and multimedia in a general chemistry lecture course at the State University of New York College at Oneonta. Highlights include the need for a new course design due to declining student performance, the use of presentation software, costs, student reactions, and differences in teaching styles. (LRW)

Describes how 20 high school teachers and university professors collaborated to initiate writing projects across the high school curriculum. Notes that the group learned the most about how to develop their collaborative cross-curricular writing program from projects in earth science and chemistry. Suggests that teaching students how to help one…

Explores the efficacy of promoting a beginning chemistry teacher's curriculum development and teaching practices through the use of computers. Observes and analyzes the teacher's instructional practices both before and after the web site treatment which includes pictorial analogies, historical cases of science, and discrepant events. Reports…

This study investigated the effects of incorporating concept mapping into computer assisted instruction with tenth grade students in Singapore. Discusses results of a chemistry achievement test that suggest that concept mapping accompanying a computer assisted tutorial program can enhance their learning, and considers future research. (Contains 30…

Describes the use of Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL) technology and a projectable TI-83 graphing calculator to demonstrate the kinetic behavior of a complex reaction. Explains how the CBL is used to review first-order reactions and the graphing calculator is used to determine the rate constants for a series of consecutive first-order reactions.…

Describes a biochemistry laboratory course in which the curriculum revolves around a single theme: the purification, characterization, and molecular biology of threonine dehydrogenase (TDH) from Escherechia coli. Lists examples of related class research projects. Contains 41 references. (WRM)

Describes the use of cooperative learning, classroom assessment, and active learning in an undergraduate organic chemistry course sequence. Contains over 20 references. (WRM)

Presents evidence that suggests that upper elementary students can be taught about the particulate nature of matter in a meaningful way. Investigated the effects of lesson sequences on children's ability to apply a particulate understanding to chemical and physical phenomena and found conceptual gains on lesson specific phenomena. (Contains 15…

Summarizes ideas for new demonstrations, experiments, and science-in-society topics for teaching chemistry. (WRM)

Designing inquiry-based-learning with and for university students develops problem-solving skills and logical reasoning, as well as reflective thinking. It involves working as a member of a team, questioning, being creative, shaping the skills for continued intellectual development. It is argued that inquiry-based group work is one of the most…

Scientific knowledge is tentative and open to revision. This sense of tentativeness, or changeability, is missing in the way textbooks and teachers often portray the nature of science (NOS). Instead, students are left with the impression that the scientific method produces sure knowledge and that they can uncritically accept the knowledge because…