Past, present, and future trends in chemical education are discussed. Among the areas considered are the earliest traditions in chemistry, lessons learned from past experiences, research in chemical education, fostering excellence in precollege science education, and instructional innovation in chemistry. (JN)

Describes a science program for honors students that offers a blend of both teacher-directed and student-directed activities. Includes information on instructional strategies used, independent student study projects, financial considerations, grading, and student reaction to the program. (JN)

Presents an experiment which links mass spectrometry to gas chromatography. Also presents a simulation of iron extraction using a ZX81 computer and discussions of Fehling versus Benedict's solutions, transition metal ammine complexes, electrochemical and other chemical series, and a simple model of dynamic equilibria. (JN)

A PET microcomputer is used as an accurate and programmable timer to support data acquisition from velocity experiments covering falling, rolling, and sliding objects, and human velocity, acceleration, and power measurements. The inexpensive instrumentation is simple and easy to use and compares favorably with conventional, more expensive…

Affective item findings from two national assessments (N=2500 for 1977 assessment; N=2000 for 1983 assessment) are reported and compared. Areas examined include attitudes toward teaching procedures, action of science teachers, current science teacher, and science class. Lists of characteristics of exemplary programs and behaviors of exemplary…

Explains the use of contingency tables as a tool in assessing variables to determine whether a relationship exists. Develops an example hypothesis step-by-step, noting the scientific processes and attitudes being addressed. Cautions that a large difference, which suggests a relationship, is not explanation since correlation does not guarantee…

Provides strategies and topics of study designed to enhance student interest in botany using both familiar and exotic plant material to illustrate genetics, plant propagation, disease, germination, hybrid vigor, anatomy, natural insecticides, and tropisms. The relationship between plants and society is also used to develop several topics. (JM)

Discusses formal-economical/epistemic-powerful features of physics formulas: the first puts constructs in logical relations to each other, reducing constructs to symbols; the second describes the correspondence which links the construct to natural events. Implications of the dual nature of formulas (considered as efficient learning tools) for…

Identified and described (using a slight modification of Flander's interaction analysis categories) the nature of biology, chemistry, and physics teachers' verbal behaviors exhibited during science instruction. Results indicate that verbal behaviors are dominated by teachers in the study (N=24), with students remaining mostly passive. (JN)

Investigated the efficacy of an instructional program designed to induce students to construct a mental scheme in which experimental design and natural experiments are understood as facets of the same problems and which incorporates a general solution procedure applicable to both. Results show a highly significant posttest achievement by the…

Indicates that although computers may churn out creative research, science is still dependent on science education, and that science education consists of increasing human experience. Also considers uses and misuses of computers in the science classroom, examining Edgar Dale's "cone of experience" related to laboratory computer and "extended…

Presents results of survey on the current status of energy education conducted for the Department of Energy at the end of the 1981-82 school year. Information about how energy is taught, and what factors (including time, texts, and other materials) promoting or preventing adoption of energy education materials was gathered. (JM)

Determined differences between lecture-demonstration and small-group laboratory approaches on students' (N=74) chemistry achievement and attitudes toward science. Findings indicate that students taught by the laboratory approach achieved better on immediate/delayed posttests than students taught by lecture-demonstration method. More desirable…

Examined grades 6-12 students' (N=2000) preferences and choices regarding science subjects and relationships of these preferences to school type, age, and sex. Findings indicate that zoology and human anatomy/physiology were most preferred while ecology was least preferred. These and other findings are related to a previous study conducted in…

A crisis is observed in the educational gap, most severe in science and mathematics, between specialists and the majority of citizens. Problems discussed include declining enrollments, teacher supply and demand, student achievement, the effect of cumulative advantages on the science and engineering talent pool, and the appropriateness of existing…