Investigated the overall effectiveness of and use of animation/graphics in "Introduction to Organic Chemistry" computer programs on student achievement and attitudes (n=approximately 400). Results indicate that although materials were effective animation sequences, they did not have an effect on student test scores. (JN)

Discusses five instructional strategies for increasing the meaningfulness of technical or scientific information. These include organization of prose, use of concrete analogies as advance organizers, use of inserted questions in prose, elaboration activities such as note-taking and discovery learning. (JN)

Course topics for and instructional strategies used in an undergraduate nuclear war course are provided. Strategies include use of documentaries, cartoons, and fiction films to enhance reality of concepts being discussed. The course was successful as judged by oral/written student evaluations. (JN)

"Perspectives on Nuclear War" is an interdisciplinary course offered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on an experimental basis during the 1981-82 academic year. Course scope/structure (including lecture schedule), readings, and requirements are provided. Suggests that similar courses should be developed and installed in curricula…

Describes a course on the nuclear age taught at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Almost all of the material covered has some political content, from weapons design and doctrine to decisions related to arms control. A list of reading resources used in the course is included. (JN)

Describes an interdisciplinary course on nuclear war offered at George Mason University (Virginia). Includes listing of the technical and nontechnical topics addressed in the course, instructional strategies, evaluation/grading methods, characteristics of students taking the course, and course evaluation. (JN)

Describes experiments on diffusion of gases, volumetric approach to water of hydration, and toxicity of chemicals in the laboratory. Also describes an inexpensive automatic pipette, overhead projection of chemical reactions, and an alternative method for demonstrating flame tests. (JN)

Suggests various methods for teaching the double layer in electrochemistry courses. Topics addressed include measuring change in absolute potential difference (PD) at interphase, conventional electrode potential scale, analyzing absolute PD, metal-metal and overlap electron PDs, accumulation of material at interphase, thermodynamics of electrified…

Discusses five approaches used by industry/colleges to provide local area network (LAN) capabilities in the analytical laboratory: (1) mixed baseband bus network coupled to a star net; (2) broadband bus network; (3) ring network; (4) star network coupled to broadband net; and (5) simple multiprocessor center. Part I (September issue) focused on…

Sedimentary patterns and hydraulic effects can be studies in model streams which are not to scale. The "Western River" is such a model which is being used effectively at Western Carolina College. Construction of the model, student exercises, and observations made when using the model are discussed. (Author/JN)

Thirteen computer/calculator programs (available from authors) are described. These include: representation of molecules as 3-D models; animated 3-D graphical display of line drawings of molecules; principles of Fourier-transform nuclear magnetic resonance; tutorial program for pH calculation; balancing chemical reactions using a hand-held…

Discusses microbial production of methane from biomass. Topics include methogens (bacteria producing methane), ecology of methanogenesis, methanogenesis in ruminant/nonruminant and other environments, role of methanogenesis in nature, and methane production in sewage treatment plants. Also discusses construction of methane digesters (and related…

To test the literal biblical account of Noah's flood, four sources of possible flood waters were evaluated to determine if a natural (as opposed to supernatural) explanation is possible. Sources include rain, hydrothermal springs, and two types of cometary impact. Thermodynamic constraints preclude a natural means of accounting for the flood.…

Students (N=387) in grades 8, 10, 12, and college were administered eight reasoning items to test hypothesis that the basic logic utilized in individuals in scientific hypothesis testing is the biconditional and that the biconditional is a precondition for development of formal operations. Results and implications for science instruction are…

Discusses the construction of lenses made out of ice, including the arrangement for mounting an ice lens on a camera. Also discusses brewing coffee in an ibrik (long-handled container tapering slightly toward the top), focusing on the physics of the brewing. (JN)