Today, the use of web-based videos in science classrooms is becoming more and more commonplace. However, these videos are often fast-paced and information rich--science concepts can be fragmented and embedded within larger cultural issues. This article addresses the cognitive difficulties posed by many web-based science videos. Drawing on concepts…

Preliminary pilot studies and a field study show how a generalizable conceptual framework calibrated with item response modeling can be used to describe the development of student conceptual understanding in chemistry. ChemQuery is an assessment system that uses a framework of the key ideas in the discipline, called the Perspectives of Chemists,…

An instructional unit incorporating some of the Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) hydrology protocols provides an excellent way to connect academic learning, scientific inquiry, multiple subjects, and the values required for concerned citizenship in a democracy. This article describes the GLOBE hydrology protocols…

The assimilation and synthesis of knowledge is essential for students to be successful in chemistry, yet not all students synthesize knowledge as intended. The study used the Learning Preference Checklist to classify students into one of three learning modalities--visual, auditory, or kinesthetic (VAK). It also used the Kolb Learning Style…

SINCE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPRESENT A WIDE RANGE OF ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCES, THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM MUST BE BOTH CORRECTIVE OF IMPOVERISHED EXPERIENCE AND ADAPTIVE TO A VARIETY OF ABILITIES. THE PROGRAM SHOULD REFLECT THE NATURE OF SCIENCE AS AN ENTERPRISE OF INTELLIGENCE AND SHOULD USE THE METHODS OF INTELLIGENCE. THE PURPOSES OF THE…

This handbook is an adjunct to the "Laboratory Manual for Advanced Physical Science 2," and is intended to assist teachers in organizing laboratory experiences. Information for each experiment includes (1) Introduction, (2) Scheduling, (3) Time required, (4) Materials needed , (5) Precautions, (6) Laboratory hints, (7) Sample data, and…

Compared were the effects of open-ended experiments and closely directed laboratory experiments in high school physics on concept comprehension, laboratory performance, and achievement in problem solving. Test instruments for evaluating concept comprehension and problem solving were constructed from relevant items in the New York Regents Physics…

The test, written for secondary school science students, consists of two parts. Part One contains 34 multiple-choice questions aimed at determining the students understanding of science processes. Part Two presents a problem which requires students (1) to plot data on a graph, (2) observe the data and offer a possible explanation for what is…