The purpose of this quantitative pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was to examine the effect on student success rates in biology courses with laboratory components taken via distance education at a California community college. This study examined success rates for nine different courses, including 98 sections (2,299 students) taught only…

This communication describes our initial experience modifying traditional (written and calculation-based) assignments in the surface and colloid chemistry course given as a part of the chemical engineering program. The new exercises contain a more relatable context that is easier to understand and remember in terms of future challenges in…

To promote student involvement in the reduction of chemical waste generated by teaching laboratories, a method published by Flinn Scientific for the treatment of waste sodium molybdate has been modified for use in treating waste generated by the popular molybdenum blue method for the analysis of phosphate in natural water samples. In this teaching…

The possibility of conducting laboratory experiments at home without using commercially available kits, which might also be overly expensive, seems to be a suitable approach for a distance chemistry laboratory. Thus, several hands-on experiments with household supplies have been developed aiming at fostering students' laboratory competencies, as…

So-called "Color Wonder" markers contain colorless dyes that only display color when used to mark on special "Color Wonder" paper. These markers make use of leuco dyes that only develop color in the presence of acid. These markers provide science educators with a novel chemical system that can be implemented in inquiry-based…

A version of the classic rotationally resolved infrared (IR) spectrum of a diatomic molecule experiment has been developed using the POGIL framework to more fully engage students in the collection, modeling, analysis, and interpretation of the data. An analysis of the experimental protocol reveals that the POGIL approach actively engages students…

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are becoming more prevalent throughout chemistry curricula as a mechanism to lower barriers to participation, improve retention, and decrease success gaps for historically minoritized populations. Given the evidence that long-duration and early entry experiences are more impactful, herein we…

Innovative approaches to teaching genetics are essential for improving student engagement and comprehension in this challenging field. Laboratory-based instruction enhances engagement with the subject while fostering the development of practical competencies and deepening comprehension of theoretical concepts. However, constraints on time and…

Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) hold significant promise for improving physics education research that uses machine learning. In this study, we compare the application of various models for conducting a large-scale analysis of written text grounded in a physics education research classification problem: identifying skills in…

The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of laboratory activities employing the Predict-Explain-Observe-Discuss-Explain (PEODE) approach in promoting gifted students' interpretation of everyday problems related to fundamental science concepts. This quasi-experimental study involved 54 gifted students enrolled in the Science and…

There is increasing interest in the use of artificial intelligence technologies, which have become a transformative force in the field of education, in educational fields that include subject areas that support lifelong learning, such as science and chemistry education. In this study, a systematic review was conducted on the use and effects of…

Cell biology research methods and techniques is one of the training courses for graduate students before enter the laboratory in many universities. However, due to the limited time of experimental teaching while the teaching contents are increasing, choosing suitable teaching content has always been a challenge faced by experimental teaching.…

The reaction between hydrochloric acid and calcium carbonate to produce carbon dioxide gas is a popular and engaging experiment to illustrate chemical reactions that result in the production of gases. It also provides a useful model for teaching concepts related to the effects of concentration on reaction rates. Although a prepared hydrochloric…

This article describes low-cost well plates that can be used as alternative kits for microscale experiments. Although ordinary well plates are useful and convenient for microscale experiments, they are not cheap. We have developed well plates composed of plastic bottle caps with approximately 3cm diameter and cardboard containers. Plastic bottle…

Brewing science is an interdisciplinary course taught at many universities in both lecture- and lab-based modalities. The laboratory component of this class typically focuses on the brewing process from malted barley to beer. However, this ignores the malting process--an essential step in making beer, although one typically performed by maltsters…