Describes a study that investigated the activities and interactions of teachers and students in two Western Australian high schools. Reports findings dealing with activity structures, reward systems, teacher expectations, and disruptive students. Also contrasts the managerial styles of three teachers. (ML)

Describes an attempt to study and map the development of children's conceptions of materials. Interviews with preschool, first-grade, fourth-grade, and seventh-grade students revealed a dramatic improvement during the years studied in children's abilities to talk and think about materials. (ML)

Describes a simple thermodynamics experiment recommended for use in beginning chemical engineering laboratory courses. Outlines the theory behind the experiment, which determines the specific heat of a liquid. Discusses the construction, operation, and maintenance of the apparatus involved, along with the experimental procedure. (TW)

Discusses the possibility of having chemistry students do their own computer programing that could then be used to solve problems in general chemistry. Describes such an effort at Eastern Washington University. Provides examples of some of the student programs and printouts. (TW)

How elementary and secondary social studies teachers can use nature--plants, animals, habitats, and environments--to provide students with a global perspective is discussed. An interdisciplinary science, language arts, and social studies unit entitled "Microtrek Scavenger Hunt" for use in grades four through six is presented, and…

Points out agriculture's central position in the human economy and advocates its placement in liberal education. Provides a list of topics highlighting agriculture in the history of science and technology curriculum. Discusses the potential for using agriculture material in undergraduate science courses. (ML)

Provides an overview of the course "Sex, Technology, and Morality" which focuses on the human reproductive process and examines the advances in reproductive technology. The course emphasizes the social, political, and ethical implications of actual and possible technologies associated with human reproduction. (ML)

Reports on a conference on Biochemical Education and National Development held at the University of Lagos (Nigeria). Includes the author's personal impressions on biochemical education at Nigerian universities. Summarizes the sessions held at the conference regarding undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in those universities. (TW)

Suggests a method for solving verbal problems in chemistry using a linguistic algorithm that is partly adapted from two artificial intelligence languages. Provides examples of problems solved using the mental concepts of translation, rotation, mirror image symmetry, superpositioning, disjoininng, and conjoining. (TW)

Discusses the increasing need for both universities and industries to provide continuing technical education and training for industry employees. Argues that while industry-supplied and university-supplied continuing technical education have coexisted for the past few decades, in the future both entities will greatly increase their collaboration…

Discusses some of the recent developments in providing continuing engineering education programs. Lists 10 potential problems encountered by universities in attempting to provide a strong continuing engineering education program. Includes concerns about industry cooperation, objectives, needs assessments, finances, program quality, the role of…

Reports on a study which examined the relationship between spatial ability and performance in organic chemistry. Results indicated that students with high spatial scores did significantly better on questions requiring problem solving skills, as well as on those requiring the mental manipulation of two-dimensional representations of a molecule. (TW)

Discusses the gender differences revealed on the science content items of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Science Assessment. Examines explanations for the differences, including differential prior instruction, differential response to uncertainty, differential response to figurally presented items, and different attitudes toward…

Describes an inservice training program for elementary and junior high school teachers that sought to enhance teachers' knowledge of physical science and skills of science instruction. Presents test data on participants' knowledge of science content, attitudes toward science, and beliefs about science teaching. (ML)

Reports the results of an in-depth examination of middle school children's graphing skills and misconceptions. Also discusses a study in which students learned graphing skills through microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL). (ML)