Describes activities to help students understand pH scales and acid rain. (PR)

The purposes of this paper are (1) to demonstrate that medical microbiology laboratory exercises should be presented with a focus on medical applications, not just traditional microbiology and (2) that exercises devoted to differential diagnostic decision making can be used to enhance the problem solving of students. (PR)

Explores the potential of portfolios for science education by examining issues related to purpose, structure, and authenticity. Illustrates portfolio applications in student assessment, prospective science teacher education programs, and the assessment of practicing science teachers. (MDH)

Describes a class activity of conducting a mock trial of a pretend situation of a white-tailed deep population creating problems for a town. Procedures, fact sheets, names, and descriptors of characters are provided. (PR)

Examines the following five teaching techniques that have strong motivational value: (1) study groups, (2) group projects, (3) sharing information, (4) computer-assisted instruction, and (5) field trips. (PR)

A learning cycle lesson consists of three phases: concept exploration, concept introduction, and concept application. Describes the application of the learning cycle model to the design of inservice and preservice teacher education curriculum. (MDH)

Students (n=40) who had experienced cooperative and individualistic concept-mapping experiences performed significantly better in solving three biological problems than did control students (n=20). No significant differences were found between students who mapped concepts cooperatively and those who mapped individually. There were mixed results…

Compared the laboratory method versus lecture method for Nigerian grade eight students (n=210). High achievers in both groups had identical achievement, but the low achievers in the laboratory sections performed better than students receiving the lectures. Females receiving lectures performed better than the males receiving lectures. (PR)

Describes a three-week environmental minicourse in a general chemistry class. The minicourse consisted of two distinct phases, a one-week introduction to environmental chemistry and a two-week project involving a particular environmental problem. (PR)

Presents a list of 11 advantages that hands-on science instruction has over science instruction via television. Teaching methods encourage activities that appeal to sensual stimulation, problem solving, student interests, and cooperative learning. (MDH)

Describes an activity that shows how understanding a modern coral reef environment helps predict the location of old subsurface reefs that may contain oil. (PR)

Describes how science fiction films can be used in science instruction. (PR)

Provides a model that maps out five stages of relating library and scientific research: (1) establish an interest; (2) narrow a topic; (3) clarify the variables; (4) refine the procedures; and (5) interpret the unexpected. Provides a student questionnaire for selecting a topic and a format for general note taking. (MDH)

Presents the experiences of high school science teachers who initiated tracking reform in their school, generating substantial debate and conflict in their community. The conflict illuminates key challenges teachers may encounter as they promote educational and social change. The paper notes implications for preservice teacher education,…

Interview and case-study techniques were used in an ethnographic-interpretive study of non-Western students. Findings indicate that in developing countries, enculturation into a Western school view involves an implicit devaluation of students' traditional world views which govern their village lifestyles. Concludes that a Western school view is of…