Examined academic achievement of students in the Department of Engineering Science, Institut Teknologi MARA (Malaysia) who had participated in a bridging program in lieu of required secondary level mathematics and science courses. Evaluation of grades in first year engineering courses (mathematics, physics, and chemistry) indicated the bridging…

Explores common schemes used by Spanish 10-12th grade students in concrete and abstract contextual situations to explain the internal structure of metals, the causes of electric conduction of metals, and the nature of this current. Concludes that students' conceptions change progressively as they are exposed to additional relevant information in…

Describes how to evaluate the effectiveness of demonstration assessments as assessment tools and instruments for developing conceptual understanding and critical thinking. (SAH)

Discusses the origin and evolution of the meanings of the concepts 'amount of substance' and 'mole'. Identifies serious disagreements about these concepts among chemistry teachers and the recommendations of the international scientific community. Also draws attention to the didactic implications that these epistemological difficulties may have for…

Recommends using science fiction television episodes, novels, and films for teaching science and motivating students. Studies Newton's Law of Motion, principles of relativity, journey to Mars, interplanetary trajectories, artificial gravity, and Martian geology. Discusses science fiction's ability to capture student interest and the advantages of…

Based on research on the effect of preinstructional knowledge on students' learning of chemical phenomena, this study explores individual learning processes in an introductory chemistry course. Focuses on four common conceptions about two basic chemistry concepts: changes of substances and the particle model of matter. (Author/SAH)

Introduces a laboratory experiment that investigates and compares the carbon monoxide content of automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke using gas chromatography techniques. (YDS)

Introduces the Mass Media Mistake, an exercise in which students engage in a healthy skepticism of chemistry in the printed world, rewrite the example correctly, and discuss the consequences of the original error on the unsuspecting reader. (Contains 13 references.) (ASK)

Presents a chemistry activity that introduces students to one type of chemical bond by developing the integer operation concept of zero pairs. Leads to an activity of combining drops of 0.3 molar solutions to form six different colored precipitates from five solutions. (ASK)

The abstract nature of the mole and its applications to problem solving make learning the concept difficult for students, and teaching the concept challenging for teachers. Presents activities that use concept maps and graphing calculators as tools for solving mole problems. (ASK)

Argues that the failure to identify concepts and definitions with their corresponding levels of discourse has resulted in the propagation of historically outdated definitions and vocabulary in chemistry textbooks. Provides several examples of the problem from textbooks. Contains 36 references. (DDR)

Reports on what appears to be a promising approach to the treatment and spread of cancer. Utilizes a mutant of the common cold virus that appears to kill many kinds of cancer cells but not normal cells. (DDR)

Describes a science laboratory experiment on odors which demonstrates the integration of chemistry and biology. Explains how the smell function works. (Contains 13 references.) (YDS)

Uses popular sayings and proverbs to introduce chemical phenomena. Presents an exercise including 26 chemical concepts identified with matching proverbs and sayings. (YDS)

Introduces a chemistry course designed for preservice teachers that focuses on increasing the knowledge of students using hands-on, constructivist, inquiry-based science experiences. (YDS)