Discussion of distance education activities at the University of the South Pacific focuses on chemistry courses that were developed for distance teaching. Problems with arranging a practical work component, including laboratory facilities, are addressed; the need for adequate tutorial assistance is discussed; and problems with slow turn-around…

Describes the development of an undergraduate program in environmental chemistry at California State University-Fullerton. The program's development illustrates how the needs of the local environmental community can shape such programs and ensure their support in a time of shrinking academic budgets. (LZ)

Describes how a high school chemistry teacher used reading, writing, discussion, and cooperative presentations to reshape examinations so as to teach students as well as assess them. Describes how students had multiple opportunities to express understanding of chemistry concepts and how the teacher could assess students' abilities to communicate…

Analyzes the performance of male and female high school students (n=43,000) on the Australian National Chemistry Quiz in 1991. Results showed that on many questions boys outperformed girls. Reasons why boys and girls might differ in the rates of solving some of the questions are discussed, and directions for identifying the nature, extent, and…

Describes the organization, operation, and evaluation of an experimental online electronic conference for 450 chemistry educators from 33 countries that was conducted on the Internet. Advantages and disadvantages of online conferencing compared to traditional methods of scholarly discourse are discussed, and future plans are described. (Author/LRW)

Describes CHMINF-L (Chemical Information Sources Discussion List), including the history of its development on the Internet, its place in today's chemical information environment, and its possible future developments. Typical postings are described, subscription information is included, and listserv features and the future of listserv and similar…

Describes using problem solving in science instruction and the advantages derived from this approach. Authors' experience suggests there are many problem-solving approaches in physics, technology, and biology but that chemists have not yet made an impact. Presents two case studies in problem solving in chemistry from the Creativity in Science and…

Reports descriptive study concerning student understanding of isomers. Sample of 7,441 senior high school students completed tests which contained 12 questions on isomerism. Results indicate students are inclined to restrict their concept of isomerism to compounds belonging to the same class. There was no evidence students expected molecular…

Describes how teachers and students can conduct a schoolwide hazardous waste survey. The activity is an introduction to hazardous waste management and is useful in general physical science, chemistry, and environmental science classes. Two activity worksheets are provided. Explains how schools can clean up hazardous waste problems. (PR)

Variance as a function of time is described for the Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate's examination standards, with emphasis on the performance of candidates from Botswana and Zimbabwe. Results demonstrate the value of simple linear modeling in extracting performance trends for a range of subjects over time across six countries. (TJH)

The effects of neurotoxins on the development of the central and peripheral nervous systems are discussed. Organophosphates, carbamates, organic solvents, and dioxin are highlighted. The effects of long- and short-term exposure are described. (CW)

Interview data exemplify students' attempts to integrate the concepts of electrochemistry with related knowledge that they had previously constructed or acquired in other classes. The implications for minimizing potential misconceptions center on the difficulties students experience when using more than one model for explaining scientific…

Six articles discuss the work of Michael Faraday, a chemist whose work revolutionized physics and led directly to both classical field and relativity theory. The scientist as a young man, the electromagnetic experiments of Faraday, his search for the gravelectric effect, his work on optical glass, his laboratory notebooks, and his creative use of…