Describes the diffusion of water molecules with terminology adopted from the physical sciences. Presents a set of student exercises (with answers) relating to the topic. (SK)

Describes equipment, activities, and experiments useful in biology and environmental education instruction, including, among others, sampling in ecology using an overhead projector, the slide finder as an aid to microscopy, teaching kidney function, and teaching wildlife conservation-sand dune systems. (SK)

Summarizes "you do it" activities presented at the 1978 South Australian Science Teachers Association Conference. Topics include microscope use and maintenance, chemical slide cells, chemical models, sound waves, microwaves, astronomy, plant keys, reading geological maps, and natural dye processes. (DS)

Structure of physics can be treated as an instructional variable by teachers who make the choices: defined versus derived concepts, operational versus paraphrase definitions, and theoretical versus empirical relationships. Operational definitions and empirical relationships are recommended for beginning students; paraphrase definitions and…

Describes a systematic investigation of the understanding of the concept of acceleration among students enrolled in a variety of introductory physics courses through individual demonstration interviews. Describes and identifies some conceptual difficulties and discusses some implications for instruction. (Author/SK)

Operation Waste Watch is a seven-unit program for grades K-6 which addresses such topics as litter control, recycling, and resources recovery. It is designed to instill in students positive feelings about the environment. (DS)

Discusses various topics in microelectronics to aid those teaching modern electronics for the first time, including, among others, the slang name "micro," attitudes of examining boards, rapid obsolescence of electronic devices, costs, analog systems, and digital systems. (SK)

Reports results of a study designed to determine how well several forms of adjunct questions establish encoding by visual imagery, and whether such coding enhances performance compared to questions designed to encourage verbal encoding alone. (CS)

Outlines an approach for interpreting the influence of social factors on the directions in which secondary school science curricula have developed and explores the influence of the institutional context of comprehensivization on emerging science curriculum in Great Britain in the 1960s. (Author/DS)

Many didactical difficulties encountered in contemporary school physics are due to an outdated philosophy of science as illustrated by the energy concept, an example of a theoretical term which cannot be defined operationally with the help of simple measurement operations. (Author/DS)

Briefly describes the Department of Education's philosophy and degree programs in science education at Southampton University in the United Kingdom. Includes an annotated list of seven current research projects in the education department. (DS)

Discusses the effect of silhouetting a vertical vibrating string against a television screen. The article also reports the usefulness of the effect in tuning stringed instruments and as a possible basis for lecture demonstrations and student discussions and investigations. (HM)

Describes an experiment for the use of a tilted plane as a two-dimensional uniform gravitational field to demonstrate the motion of projectiles, to determine the fundamental laws of mechanics, or to study the focusing properties of the uniform field. (SK)

Reviews the tradition of teaching and learning of organic chemistry in high school courses. Includes an analysis of present student performance and possible directions of future chemistry programs. Report is based on research of instruction and learning of organic chemistry in 90 high schools. (Author/JN)

Describes several elementary science learning experiences and activities concerning the concept of space. Activities described include tracing children's shadows at different times of day, moon observations, and planetarium activities. (DS)