Discusses the accomplishments of a model program characterized by an intense training program, an active network among teachers, and a learning-friendly laboratory classroom. (DDR)

Presents a brief legal history of the evolution/creationism controversy as a means of highlighting the issues involved in the controversy. Argues that understanding this legal history greatly benefits student understanding. Contains 69 references. (DDR)

Enables students to examine the time course for seed imbibition and the pressure generated by imbibing seeds. Provides background information, detailed procedures, and ideas for further investigation. (DDR)

Describes the results of a study of the current level of evolution instruction in public schools in Louisiana. Finds a significant and positive correlation between emphasis placed on evolution instruction and teachers' knowledge-base. Also finds no pressure on biology teachers to regard evolutionary theory as a unifying theme in biology, and…

Describes the addition of readings from popular science writers to the required syllabus of a community college-level introductory biology course for science majors. Recommends required readings and features sample student reactions to, and evaluations of, the essays. (WRM)

Describes a simulation exercise designed to illustrate the influence of founder effects, genetic drift, and gene flow. Also presents strategies for using cooperative learning in large lecture settings. (WRM)

Discusses current biological research related to plants, including rootless plants, cellulose synthesis, plant identification in forensic science, and plant chemistry. Contains 19 references. (WRM)

Evaluates a thematic program designed for use in introductory biology courses. Main objectives include the following: to provide relevancy of biological concepts beyond the classroom, be process oriented, integrate units within a biology course, teach for higher-order thinking, and expand the use of resources beyond the textbook. (CCM)

Describes students' (n=175) understandings of the structure of animal (including human) skeletons and the internal organs found in them. Finds that older students have a better knowledge of animals' internal anatomies, although knowledge of human internal structure is significantly better than knowledge of rat, bird, and fish internal structure.…

Explores the natural forces that created the Colorado Plateau, examines a few of the myriad plants and animals inhabiting the six life zones on the plateau, and provides an overview of the challenges faced by land managers seeking to care for the plateau's extraordinary life and land forms. Contains 17 references. (WRM)

Describes the background and outcome of the McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education case heard in federal court in the early 1980s. The decision repealed a legislative act which called for "equal time" in science classrooms for presenting evolution and creationism. The decision also established that "creation science" had no scientific merit or…

Reports on research that tested the effect of using a computer simulation to teach the concept of a food web to nonbiology majors in a large introductory course. Concludes that the use of the simulation resulted in significantly better performance on an open-ended essay question for those students who used the software, particularly for average…

Presents results of a pretest/posttest measure for assessing scientific literacy that was given to a general biology class for nonmajors. Test questions are listed and include items covering popular biology-related misconceptions. (WRM)

Presents an activity that allows students to observe crawling and swimming behavior in Lumbriculus variegatus, a freshwater oligochaete worm. Contains 12 references. (WRM)

Provides a protocol for examining the mechanisms of animal thermoregulation in a straightforward but more sophisticated manner than using a thermal gradient. Describes a methodology for conducting operant conditioning to examine thermal set points for ectothermic animals. Contains 20 references. (WRM)