Describes the phases of the integration of academic computing into the operations of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) at the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Reviews planning and operational stages and discusses future directions. (DMM)

Describes the chemical analysis and rating system used at "Consumer Reports" in rating antacids. Discusses considerations made concerning dosage and duration of 12 common brands of antacid. (CW)

Discusses general statistical methods which could be employed to develop homework problems and laboratory exercises. Methods emphasize experimental design and the effects of uncertainties on inferences drawn from experimental data. (CW)

Describes a system for computer-assisted practice of Chinese vocabulary. Its main goal is to help students improve their association between the sound of a Chinese word or phrase and its graphic shape in Chinese characters. This system is currently for use with the Victor 9000. (Author/LMO)

Discusses the effects of using carbon dioxide contaminated sodium hydroxide solution as a titrant for a solution of a weak monoprotic acid and the resulting distortion of the titration curve in comparison to one obtained when an uncontaminated titrant is used. (CW)

Reported the development and validation of an integrated model of performance on chemical concept-volumetric analysis. Model was tested on 265 chemistry students in eight schools.Results indicated that for subjects using algorithms without understanding, performance on volumetric analysis problems was not influenced by proportional reasoning…

The use of science laboratories as an instructional tool is reexamined from the points of view of the underlying premises, purposes, and practicality of laboratory instruction. Different approaches to laboratory instruction are outlined, and their relevance for the Dutch Open University's program of distance education is discussed. (Author/MSE)

Discusses the possibilities of toxins present in medicinal herbs. Describes an experiment in which toxic constituents can be selectively detected by thin-layer chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. (TW)

Reviews studies focusing on practical assessment in science. Areas considered include what students are really doing in laboratories, how practical skills should be assessed, methods used to assess practical science (such as internal/external examinations and continuous assessment), methodological issues, and reasons for the failure of some…

Presents observations about grading resulting from discussions between a writing instructor and teaching assistants working in a writing lab. Offers suggestions for grading writing and for getting students to edit their work. (HTH)

The author describes the application of the vocational method of instruction, a technique focusing on real-world laboratory settings and private sector involvement, to the programs of an academic high school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia. (CH)

Explains the use of an accelerometer in investigations confirming Newton's second law. Provides diagrams and descriptions of the apparatus. (ML)

A course to familiarize medical students with the principles of good medical research study design and analysis focuses on three types of studies: clinical trials, laboratory science, and epidemiology and biostatistics. (MSE)

Describes reasons for developing combined text and computer assisted instruction (CAI) teaching programs for delivery of continuing education to laboratory professionals, and mechanisms used for developing a CAI program on method evaluation in the clinical laboratory. Results of an evaluation of the software's cost effectiveness and instructional…

Reviews the main principles of interfacing and discusses the software developed to perform kinetic data capture and analysis with a BBC microcomputer linked to a recording spectrophotometer. Focuses on the steps in software development. Includes results of a lactate dehydrogenase assay. (ML)