Discusses many of the distinctions that chemists draw between theoretical chemistry and descriptive chemistry, along with the tendency for chemical educators to adopt the type of chemistry they feel is most important to teach. Uses examples to argue that theoretical chemistry and descriptive chemistry are, at the bottom line, the same. (TW)

Describes a new high school physics option in Great Britain which uses the model of a technological approach to the study of materials. Discusses the components of the program, including the development of a student book for independent learning and six case studies. Provides a case study about turbine blades. (TW)

Criticizes the current method of formalization in Italian schools and the use of tools of the mathematical method. Proposes a general three-stage formalization method which can used for physical quantities, the particular significance of certain quantities, and the description and interpretation of phenomena. (TW)

Reviews Apple computer science programs that are useful in a laboratory setting. Includes laboratory simulations, uses of Apple as a functioning lab instrument, and dissection programs. (ML)

Describes the goals and organization of the first in a series of courses that have an interdisciplinary concentration at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Also discusses three of the upper-level courses in the series and highlights the educational goals of this approach. (ML)

Describes a study that investigated the activities and interactions of teachers and students in two Western Australian high schools. Reports findings dealing with activity structures, reward systems, teacher expectations, and disruptive students. Also contrasts the managerial styles of three teachers. (ML)

Describes an attempt to study and map the development of children's conceptions of materials. Interviews with preschool, first-grade, fourth-grade, and seventh-grade students revealed a dramatic improvement during the years studied in children's abilities to talk and think about materials. (ML)

Describes a simple thermodynamics experiment recommended for use in beginning chemical engineering laboratory courses. Outlines the theory behind the experiment, which determines the specific heat of a liquid. Discusses the construction, operation, and maintenance of the apparatus involved, along with the experimental procedure. (TW)

Discusses the possibility of having chemistry students do their own computer programing that could then be used to solve problems in general chemistry. Describes such an effort at Eastern Washington University. Provides examples of some of the student programs and printouts. (TW)

How elementary and secondary social studies teachers can use nature--plants, animals, habitats, and environments--to provide students with a global perspective is discussed. An interdisciplinary science, language arts, and social studies unit entitled "Microtrek Scavenger Hunt" for use in grades four through six is presented, and…

Points out agriculture's central position in the human economy and advocates its placement in liberal education. Provides a list of topics highlighting agriculture in the history of science and technology curriculum. Discusses the potential for using agriculture material in undergraduate science courses. (ML)

Provides an overview of the course "Sex, Technology, and Morality" which focuses on the human reproductive process and examines the advances in reproductive technology. The course emphasizes the social, political, and ethical implications of actual and possible technologies associated with human reproduction. (ML)

Reports on a conference on Biochemical Education and National Development held at the University of Lagos (Nigeria). Includes the author's personal impressions on biochemical education at Nigerian universities. Summarizes the sessions held at the conference regarding undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in those universities. (TW)

Suggests a method for solving verbal problems in chemistry using a linguistic algorithm that is partly adapted from two artificial intelligence languages. Provides examples of problems solved using the mental concepts of translation, rotation, mirror image symmetry, superpositioning, disjoininng, and conjoining. (TW)

Discusses the increasing need for both universities and industries to provide continuing technical education and training for industry employees. Argues that while industry-supplied and university-supplied continuing technical education have coexisted for the past few decades, in the future both entities will greatly increase their collaboration…