Describes an optional course in "computational physics" offered at the University of Birmingham. Includes an introduction to numerical methods and presents exercises involving fast-Fourier transforms, non-linear least-squares, Monte Carlo methods, and the three-body problem. Recommends adding laboratory work into the course in the…

Describes a study of medical students' training in orthopedics. Discusss discrepancies between course content and duration and the deficiencies that exist in basic knowledge of anatomy relevant to orthopedics. Recommends that orthopedic courses should appear earlier in the curriculum and practice should be emphasized. (TW)

Describes the absorption and containment (AC) approach to laboratory chemical-spill cleanup. Discusses currently recommended chemical-spill cleanup procedures and evaluates commercially available cleanup materials. Promotes the use of the AC method in terms of its relative safety, availability of materials, and ease of instruction. (TW)

Discusses the need for hands-on training for technician-level chemists. Describes a technician training program at Southeast Community College that emphasizes wastewater plant operations and laboratories. Outlines the course sequence for the six-quarter environmental laboratory technician curriculum. (TW)

Describes two demonstrations designed to help chemistry students visualize certain chemical properties. One experiment uses balloons to illustrate the behavior of gases under varying temperatures and pressures. The other uses a makeshift pea shooter and a commercial model to demonstrate atomic structure and the behavior of high-speed particles.…

Discusses the various ways that time is measured and expressed, noting several discrepancies between descriptives and their respective vocabularies. Suggests that a logarithmic time scale be adopted by chemists (such as one used in the experimental sciences) particularly when addressing very fast processes. (TW)

Discusses the historical development of a new value of the second dissociation constant (K2) for hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Describes the differences between the traditional high values for K2. Suggests modification of teaching about sulfide equilibria in light of the new low value for K2. (TW)

Describes an instructional strategy based on the learning cycle for teaching the use of significant figures. Provides explanations of teaching activities for each phase of the learning cycle (exploration, invention, application). Compares this approach to teaching significant figures with the traditional textbook approach. (TW)

Discusses some of the difficulties in the measurement of pressure, including the use of open-ended and closed-ended manometers. Suggests the use of an analogy of a child's seesaw in teaching about manometers. Includes diagrams showing how various positions and weights on a seesaw compare with different pressure measurements. (TW)

Presents two different approaches to teaching stoichiometry. One uses a question and answer technique and the familiar concepts of "pounds" and "degrees" to describe the concept. The second example introduces stoichiometric relationships used in the well-known camper's snack known as S'mores. (TW)

Describes a laboratory course taught at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (United Kingdom) which focuses on the preparation, properties, and applications of end-use products of the chemical industry. Outlines laboratory experiments on dyes, fibers, herbicides, performance testing, antioxidants, and surface active…

Discusses the goals of learning cycle laboratories in helping students acquire knowledge about a specific topic and to do so moving in a non-threatening way from the concrete operational level to the formal operational level. Describes an experiment designed for such laboratories dealing with the topic of oxidation-reduction. (TW)

Concept maps and structured/clinical interviews were completed by 25 fourth graders and 25 college freshmen to determine knowledge of the human circulatory system. Students (N=945) at various levels were then measured for misconception frequencies. Student preconceptions appear to be tenacious, but confrontation strategies may assist fundamental…

Describes an approach to problem solving based on real-world problems. Discusses problem analysis and definitions, preparation of briefing documents, solution finding techniques (brainstorming and synectics), solution evaluation and judgment, and implementation. (JM)

Advocates the use of discovery or guided inquiry experiments for developing critical thinking in problem solving. Provides a stepwise method for creating inquiry experiments and provides an example by comparing the two methods for a freezing point experiment. (JM)