This article describes the Kent State University Ameritech Electronic University School Classroom, opened in 1998 to provide a technology-based classroom for K-12 students and a research laboratory for college faculty and students. Other centers studying the impact of technology on teaching and learning are also described. (Contains three…

Describes some of the problems students encounter when they refuse to dissect animals in the classroom, most notably ridicule from other students and even the teacher. Offers suggestions for dealing with ridicule such as humor and education of the offenders. Notes the potential for increased self-esteem and confidence that can be gained by dealing…

Describes two science activities concerning water density and shares an idea for combining these activities into a third, completely new activity. Demonstrates the joy of rekindling the spirit of scientific thinking in a typical classroom. (PVD)

A cooperative of small, rural Alabama schools is teaching aquaculture in vocational agriculture classes to make science more relevant. Program goals include enhancing student skills through daily work in living laboratories; training teachers who understand life sciences' connection to everyday rural life and are skilled in using living…

Describes the ongoing problem of graduate level preparation for community college teaching, and the need for such faculty. Describes a program in which two-year college and university faculty collaborate to train graduate students as community college faculty. Discusses getting the program started, implementing it, and taking stock. (SR)

Discusses how to integrate a computer lab with a school library media center. Topics include planning; management issues; printing guidelines; scheduling; instruction and integration; staff development; supervision while classes are in the computer lab; and technical issues. (LRW)

Identifies truths and "partial truths" evident in Dewey's analysis of the relationship between social change and educational requirements expressed in "School and Society." Responds to Dewey's assertions that the educational system must be completely transformed, that democracy is in danger if the best is not sought for every…

Describes a procedure for the datalogging of microbial population densities. (WRM)

Reports research findings of an experimental design in which cooperative-learning strategies were applied to closed-lab instruction of computing concepts. SimCPU, a software package specially designed for closed-lab usage was used by 171 high school students of four classes. Results showed that collaboration enhanced learning and that blending…

Describes a partnership between Meadowgate School for students with special needs and Isle College in Wisbech, UK. Meadowgate School provides work experience placements for Isle College students, and the College provides classes for the school's special needs students. Outlines an initiative to provide science classes. (WRM)

Examines the benefits of language laboratories for learning Japanese. After reviewing related literature and selected issues on educational technology, the article presents results from a survey of Australian college students using a language laboratory. Overall, students appreciated and were positive about the language laboratory, though some had…

Introduces young children to the safe study of insects and promotes respect for the study specimen. Children craft insects out of marshmallows, toothpicks, and cardboard and practice using a clear plastic cup to collect and observe insects through a magnifying lens. With their new skills, they can move on to studying real insects. (PVD)

This paper has arisen as a result of teaching Models in Biology to undergraduates of Bioengineering at the Gediminas Technical University of Vilnius. The aim is to teach the students to use a fresh approach to the problems they are familiar with, to come up with an articulate verbal model after a mental effort, to express it in rigorous…

Current reform documents place a strong emphasis on students' understandings of the nature of science (NOS). Interestingly, the importance of this educational outcome is not new and has been agreed upon as important by most scientists and science educators for the past 100 years. Despite numerous attempts, including the major curricular reform…

Involving students in inquiry-based exercises is much more difficult than simply providing activities for them to do in the classroom. While active learning suggests students are physically participating in the lesson, inquiry learning requires that they are also mentally participating in it. Academic theorists agree it is more the mental…