Describes a science activity using gummy worms to help primary students develop the mathematical skills of measurement concepts, units of measure, estimation, and graphing needed for science learning. Groups of two begin by estimating the number of gummy worms in their package and identifying the colors they expect to find. Individual worms are…

Describes a classroom technique designed to inject an interactive discussion framework into the classroom and to focus students' attention on reading and absorbing information from a textbook. (DDR)

Describes a study to investigate how effectively concept mapping can be used to focus children on their own learning in science and to provide a way of describing their own achievements. Findings indicate that some children were able to identify specific targets for future learning. Motivation and metacognition were the main areas of benefit. (PVD)

In-class tips are provided for teaching science to students with deafness, including individualize class assignments, recognize achievement, use multiple resources, provide individualized activities, encourage research, and encourage parental participation. Tips are also provided for the entire school, such as establishing a science night and…

Describes a popular yearly activity at one middle school in which a production of a Shakespearean comedy becomes the centerpiece of an interdisciplinary unit on the Elizabethan Period involving language arts, social studies, math, science, music, art, technical education, home economics, and the learning center. (SR)

Describes the development of a World Wide Web version of a second-year biology class. Discusses features of the course and its organization as well as interaction with the instructor and other class members through e-mail and a Web conference. Course satisfaction was high with a main positive aspect being students' ability to schedule learning…

Discusses three of the authors' experiences as high school seniors serving as peer tutors and assessors for eighth graders' science portfolios in a science class that integrated a series of year-long writing activities using portfolios into an eighth-grade conceptual science class. (SR)

Describes CAPA, a software tool to implement a computer-assisted personalized approach for homework assignments and examinations in a large introductory physics class at Michigan State University. Highlights include increased individual attention for students; correlation between homework performance and results of the final exam; feedback for…

Driven by Goals 2000 legislation, partnerships involving schools, businesses, and universities are preparing students for technically sophisticated workplaces. The Kids at Work project initiated by Project SMART (Science/Mathematics Applied Resources for Teaching) is a New York State validated approach to improving elementary math and science…

Describes evaluations of CAL (computer-assisted learning) at the Open University (Great Britain). Highlights include evaluation of science teaching; evaluation of the Home Computing Policy; CAL evaluation in the literature; and a framework for a principled approach to evaluation, including interactions with software, outcomes, and a case study.…

Four "fables" from the perspectives of four university collaborators describe the transformation of the original Mathematics and Science Collaborative Project (University of New Hampshire and four Durham, New Hampshire, middle and high schools) as its participants and leaders tried to balance the demands of an externally funded project…

Describes an approach that uses an electronic bulletin board in a large class to promote cooperation and interactivity among students both inside and outside the classroom. Concludes that this approach facilitated student-student and student-professor interactions, improved the quality of instruction, and produced a more learning-friendly…

Adapted a high school physics program to make physics less elite and more accessible to all students. Students surveys evaluated their attitudes regarding the effectiveness of the new conceptual approach. Results indicated that the approach opened the door to physics for many traditionally underrepresented groups. Students considered the revised…

Describes "Write Now," a writing-to-learn math and science program promoting academic gains and student involvement. Describes how students begin class by writing an answer to an open-ended question dealing with the previous lesson, noting that monitoring oral and written responses allows for evaluation of understanding. Lists criteria…

Presents a visual aid designed to generate an image of water movement among soil particles using an overhead projector to teach the physical phenomena related to water status and water movement in the soil. Utilizes a base plate of thin transparent plastic, opaque plastic sheets, a plate of glass, and a colored aqueous solution. (AIM)