Activities are suggested for helping students understand the nature of contours (lines of constant geographic elevation), including instructions for preparing a contour map with an apparatus constructed with a sharpened stake and perpendicular crossbar, plumb line (washer tied to string), and a soda straw. (SK)

A comparison of chemistry teaching in French "Grandes Ecoles" and British universities focuses on entry requirements, course structure and content, teaching methods, assessment, and relationship to industry. Ways in which each country can benefit from the other's practices are outlined. A breakdown of program hours in selected…

Provides tabular data and discusses the evaluations from parents and faculty of a year-long course in sex education at George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia. (CS)

Describes an experiment using chromatographic techniques on aging leaves which gives high school biology students the opportunity to observe, question, and formulate hypotheses. (CS)

Describes a method for undergraduate physiology students to measure plasma volume by the dye dilution technique, in which a computer is used to interpret data. Includes the computer program for the data analysis. (CS)

Describes a two-quarter hour college chemistry course focusing on laboratory safety. Includes lists of topics/assignments, problem sets (toxicology, storage, and energy) and videotapes, films, and slide sets used in the course. (JN)

Describes the use and analysis of pretests/posttests for assessing instructional consequences in introductory college chemistry. Results from two studies (N=58 and N=136) are discussed as well as the use of pretests/posttests in helping instructors to identify course topics which need attention and improvement. (Author/JN)

As the crusade to outlaw the teaching of evolution changed to a battle for equal time for creationism, the ideological defenses of that doctrine also shifted, from biblical to scientific grounds. The development of "scientific creationism" is described, focusing on the intellectual leaders of creationism, particularly those claiming scientific…

Describes the first course of a new physics curriculum developed at the Karlsruke Institute for the Didactics of Physics. The basic idea, energy flow, is introduced at the beginning of the course and illustrated by examples from everyday life. Highlights selected topics which introduce concepts unique to the approach. (Author/JN)

Evaluated is the Longeot test, a paper and pencil test designed to measure various aspects of formal and concrete operational thought. Information from over 500 subjects (ages 17 to 20) indicated the test to be reliable and classifications from it correlated with classifications mode using Piagetian tasks. (DS)

Three groups of junior high school students were exposed to different teaching methods (lecture, lecture-laboratory, and field trip) and were tested on both concrete and abstract information to see whether there was a significant difference in the amount of learning among teaching methods. (JT)

Tests the applicability of Ausubel's theory to the meaningful learning of intellectual skills. Results of three studies of high school students indicate that advance organizers enhance learning of skills related to solubility product problems. This effect was removed if prior teaching in relevant background knowledge was included. (Author/WB)

The recent White House reviews of science and engineering education suggest that sagging science and mathematics standards in American classrooms are a liability to industrial performance and international performance. (MP)

Highlights activities, workshops, and lectures at the seventh Biennial Conference on Chemical Education held at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) focusing on the current shift from principles and theories to applications in college and high school chemistry courses. (JN)

Describes and evaluates innovative instructional methods for teaching photosynthesis at a correctional facility for high school boys. Use of the Visual Response System raises the level of activity and interaction in classrooms by providing each student with an overhead projector and feedback units. Also describes teacher materials and equipment.…