Explains the advantages and disadvantages of verification experiments in classrooms from the secondary school science teacher's point of view and discusses the reasons for difficulties and resistance in replacing verification experiments with inquiry experiments. (Contains 19 references.) (YDS)

Presents three biology activities involving insects that demonstrate basic ecological principles related to the forensic sciences. (Contains 15 references.) (YDS)

Assesses the effectiveness of two generative learning strategies, concept mapping and laboratory experiments, to determine if one is more effective with individual learners or learning groups in science classrooms. Indicates that students starting with concept maps showed higher achievement than students beginning with laboratory experiments, and…

Describes an experiment that involves the determination of the enthalpy change for a single reaction of the decomposition of aqueous hydrogen peroxide. (CCM)

Uses a software package to prepare students for an organic synthesis using the Horner-Wittig reaction and investigates the role of the software in student learning. (Author/YDS)

Uses DNA laboratories to apply three different active learning strategies to undergraduate education: (1) teaming students; (2) opening laboratories; and (3) linking experiments. Discusses the effectiveness of the stream method on student attitudes and understanding. (YDS)

Summarizes the recent research on pollen germination and introduces some basic studies on pollen tube growth that can be conducted in a secondary school laboratory. Discusses the use of a light microscope and refrigerator to study pollen. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/YDS)

Explains a health science activity concerning Howard Florey's experiment and the discovery of penicillin. Uses a mouse's point of view to conduct the activity and asks students to present information about Florey's research as if a participating mouse is talking. (YDS)

A model of reactive oxygen species metabolism is proposed as a laboratory exercise for students. The superoxide ion in this model is generated during the reaction of oxidation of xanthine, catalyzed by xanthine oxidase. The effect of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and allopurinol on superoxide ion generation and removal in this system is also…

This article reports the results of a recent study to evaluate the usefulness of physical models of molecular structures as a new tool with which to teach concepts of molecular structure and function. Of seven different learning tools used by students in this introductory biochemistry class, the use of the physical models in a laboratory was rated…

A simple tea infuser is obtained and been used as a container for the dry ice to simulate the effect from high-density dry ice. The tea infuser is a simple, low cost device to allow instructors with access to dry ice makers to effectively use the interesting demonstration.

An HPLC and a UV-visible spectrophotometer are identified as instruments that helps to incorporate more biologically-relevant experiments into the course, in order to increase the students understanding of selected biochemistry topics and enhances their ability to apply an analytical approach to biochemical problems. The experiment teaches…

Green chemistry, the design of chemical products and processes to eliminate hazards to human health and the environment, provides unique opportunities for innovation in the chemistry curriculum for engaging a broad spectrum of students in the study of chemistry. The green chemistry community is expanding efforts to develop educational materials…

Heavy faculty teaching loads and limited funds biology teachers designed certain objectives in order to increase the understandability of the subject matter of the laboratory exercises they write. In relation to these objectives an old "cookbook" laboratory exercise on yeast fermentation is introduced which involve students asking questions,…

An experiment to prepare a deuterium labeled adduct of a Lewis acid and Lewis base, to use computational methods allowing students to visualize the LUMO of Lewis acids, the HOMO of Lewis bases and the molecular orbitals of the adduct that is formed is developed. This allows students to see the interplay between calculated and experimental results.