Twenty science experiments are presented. Topics include recombinant DNA, physiology, nucleophiles, reactivity series, molar volume of gases, spreadsheets in chemistry, hydrogen bonding, composite materials, radioactive decay, magnetism, speed, charged particles, compression waves, heat transfer, Ursa Major, balloons, current, and expansion of…

A University of Texas-Houston course on ethics in the biological sciences is described. The course focuses on two central values: truthfulness and benefit to others. Issues in course development are discussed, including gaining faculty support, selecting instructors, constructing a syllabus, using cases, and reducing cultural bias in tests.…

Examination of the correlation between multiple-choice and essay portions of the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations with grades of first-year students from 32 colleges (largest sample=6,243) shows the best correlation for multiple choice tests for 2 examinations, with multiple choice and essay performing nearly equally for the…

Explains how computer database technology can be used in the herbarium and be a useful aid in teaching botany and plant taxonomy. (PR)

Presents a simple model that can help students think about evolution and better understand the gradualist and punctuationist macroevolution approaches. The model also improves instruction for concepts of mutation, selection, fitness, extinction, and origin of life. Describes an IBM computer program for instruction in these areas. (PR)

Summarizes the animal rights argument that objects to the use or killing of animals for educational purposes. Reviews and evaluates alternative approaches that include the nonanimal options of videotaped experiments, self-experimentation, and computer simulations. (MDH)

A university president emeritus offers lessons on effective leadership, focusing on five areas presidents often neglect: personal exhaustion; muddled or lack of priorities; relationships with family members and friends; personal isolation; and intellectual starvation. Suggested antidotes include serious reading, continued teaching, participation…

Contends that the example of mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan can be used as a paradigm for teaching ecology and science-and-society issues. Discusses the history and science of the pollution and poisoning, and considers the social and cultural consequences of the incident, some aspects of causation and responsibility, and some aspects of…

A high school biology teacher studied the use of both competitive and noncompetitive games in classroom learning. Students were surveyed to find out how they felt about the games and what they learned from them. Results indicated that games helped students improve self-esteem, peer relationships, and learning. Competition provided motivation but…

Describes a study that compares the performance of students enrolled in supplemental instruction (SI) with those who were not, during four undergraduate courses at the University of Central Florida. Indicates that there were significant differences in grades between SI and non-SI students in biology and chemistry, but not in calculus and American…

Describes the integration of Interactive Multimedia Experiences (IMMEX) software into 10th-grade biology classes. IMMEX allows teachers to custom design and author their own simulations which can then be used to provide students with problem-solving and critical-thinking opportunities. Student problem-solving skills can be tracked through a…

Science teaching orientations, defined as teachers' knowledge and beliefs about the purposes and goals for teaching science, have been identified as a critical component within the proposed pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) model for science teaching. Because of the scarcity of empirical studies in this area, this case study examined the nature…

Learning using primary literature may be a way of developing a capacity for scientific ways of thinking among students. Since reading research articles is a difficult task for novices, we examined the possible benefits of learning using primary literature versus secondary literature, particularly with respect to their influence on the creation and…

Studying "Caenorhabditis elegans" ("C. elegans") live cultures provides excellent opportunities for authentic inquiry in a high school anatomy and physiology or other biology lab course. Using a digital dissection microscope, a student can photograph the organism during various stages of development and study and analyze the images. In this…

This study examines the curriculum components in biology favoured by high school students in Taiwan. Our sample consisted of 155 senior high school students (51 boys and 104 girls) and 137 junior high school students (74 boys and 63 girls). The questionnaire was based on the idea of a repertory grid technique and was developed to investigate the…