Describes a titrator system, constructed from a computer-interfaced pH-meter, that was designed to increase student involvement in the process. Combines automatic data collection with real-time graphical display and interactive controls to focus attention on the process rather than on bits of data. Improves understanding of concepts and…

Describes a course specifically designed to allay the fear of science in elementary teachers by teaching them science in a laboratory-activity setting. Provides valuable laboratory experience often lacking in general education science courses. Lists topics covered in guided discovery exercises. Contains 12 references. (JRH)

Describes the use of videotapes to introduce experiments in a first-year undergraduate physics laboratory and investigates the effects on students' attitudes and achievement. Concludes that students responded positively to the video introductions but student performance was not improved. Discusses other positive outcomes of the videos. Contains 12…

A teacher of gifted minority children explains how to conduct a hands-on science experiment investigating how many drops of water can fit on a penny. Four different student activities that teach concepts such as the necessity of controlling variables in scientific experiments are described. (CR)

Two experiments examined effects of a cognitive interview on 4- and 8-year-olds' correct recall and subsequent reporting of misinformation. Found that a cognitive interview elicited more correct details than a control interview. Eight-year-olds' reports were more complete than 4-year-olds', with more correct person, action, object, and location…

Describes an investigation of the associations between students' perceptions of laboratory environment and their attitudinal, cognitive, and practical performance outcomes. Assesses student outcomes in three distinct areas: (1) student attitudes; (2) achievement on a written examination; and (3) practical performance, specifically in the biology…

Explains how controlling student access to data can be used as a strategy enabling students to take the role of a research geologist. Students develop models based on limited data and conduct field tests by comparing their predictions with the additional data. (DDR)

Describes the use of mud dauber wasp nests in laboratory activities in ecology and behavior and life science classes. Provides students with an opportunity to develop and practice basic skills including dissection, identification, observation, measurement, and communication. Discusses the life of mud daubers, obtaining and storing nests,…

Presents a protocol that gives students hands-on experience in generating a meaningful physical map of a circular molecule of DNA. Topics include agarose gel electrophoresis, logic of restriction maps, extracting data from an agarose gel, managing data from gels, experimental protocol, loading gels, electrophoresis, photographing gels, collecting…

Describes the main lecture hall at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, which contains state-of-the-art computing, sound, lighting, and projection systems. This working audiovisual (AV) laboratory allows its designer, professor Mojtaba Navvab, to teach the basics of environmental technology and AV design…

This article lists 23 comprehensive Web sites related to providing differentiated instruction to gifted students. It also discusses overall areas of differentiation, including modifying content, altering the pace of instruction, creating a flexible classroom environment, and using specific instructional strategies. Science instruction Web sites…

Discussed are the procedures and results involved in this activity. Student results in undergraduate laboratories indicate high quality results and relative ease of the analysis. (CW)

Described is a study which was developed to find the proportion of cross-dominance in young adults. Procedures and statistical tests are discussed. The tasks used in the assessment of cross-dominance are described. Results indicated that all persons suffered from some cross-dominance. (CW)

Summarizes the report on undergraduate education in biology published by the National Science Foundation. Discusses the problems and recommended solutions for each of three areas: laboratories and course development; enhancing the quality of teaching; and recruitment and retention of students. (YP)

Points out that research is an inefficient endeavor as it relates to time, but the rewards can be gratifying and of value. Reports on a compilation of faculty and administration observations, alumni and student surveys, and some readings on the topic. (RT)