Past and current practices as well as anticipated changes in administrative patterns in the health sciences are reviewed in the general context of the changing patterns of administration in higher education. The changes discussed include those in financial support, priorities, controls, and expectations. Several specific questions are addressed:…

Describes two demonstrations to illustrate characteristics of substances. Outlines a method to detect the changes in pH levels during the electrolysis of water. Uses water pistols, one filled with methane gas and the other filled with water, to illustrate the differences in these two substances. (TW)

Encourages instruction about disposal of hazardous wastes in college chemistry laboratories as an integral part of experiments done by students. Discusses methods such as down-the-drain disposal, lab-pack disposal, precipitation and disposal, and precipitation and recovery. Suggests that faculty and students take more responsibility for waste…

Reported are the results of a survey of 60 professional soil scientists which was designed to rate and rank courses that should be required for a baccalaureate degree in soil science. Lists the rankings and ratings, along with the resulting core courses and a proposed year-by-year sequence. (TW)

Reported is a study designed to determine whether reading grade level (RGL) assessment techniques used for elementary and secondary education textbooks would discriminate among plant and soil science textbooks. The study was to select the RGL indices suited to quantify the readability of these sources, and to identify the factors affecting…

Reports on a study to determine the use of outdoor resources in the teaching of natural science in secondary schools, and to obtain suggestions from science teachers for increasing and improving the use of outdoor resources. Results indicated 16 percent of classes do not study science outdoors. (TW)

Provides a description of a course which focused on the social psychology of computers and people. Explains the class format, evaluation criteria and lists examples of students' projects and reading topics. Includes a summary of the program's outcome. (ML)

Presents ideas intended to provoke thinking about how science teaching can engage the imagination and spark the creative faculties of students and teachers. Provides examples of ways that teachers can improve their questioning techniques. (TW)

Claims that most instruction dealing with genetics is limited to sex education and personal hygiene. Suggests that the biology curriculum should begin to deal with other issues related to genetics, including genetic normality, prenatal diagnoses, race, and intelligence. Predicts these topics will begin to appear in British examination programs.…

Describes a six-week summer program for gifted high school students in mathematics, science, and computer programing, conducted by the Center for Mathematical Services at the University of South Florida. Discusses the assessment tests used and the courses and topics taught, particularly the chemistry concepts and skills. (TW)

Describes a generalist chemistry program being offered as a part of the liberal arts program at the University College of the Australian Defence Force Academy. Provides a rationale for developing the new generalist curriculum and contains syllabi from two chemistry courses in the program. (TW)

Discusses the potential of experiments as a vehicle and to motivate students to use text references to look up further information such as nomenclature, molecular geometry, properties and reactivities for various ions and molecules. Describes the procedures and discussion for three such experiments. (TW)

Describes an activity in which students collect airborne particles using a common vacuum cleaner. Suggests ways for the students to convert their data into information related to air pollution and human health. Urges consideration of weather patterns when analyzing the results of the investigation. (TW)

Argues that cookbook chemistry laboratory experiments do little to teach scientific inquiry. Suggests providing students with laboratory experiences that follow the introduction of a concept and challenge students to investigate that concept through an experiment involving very few initial instructions. Lists some such challenges used in chemistry…

Describes a computer-assisted oil exploration and production game for students involved in a short course in petroleum geology. Outlines the game and its procedures, and provides sample structure maps generated by the computer in the course of playing the game. (TW)