The experience of implementing a writing center in a central Illinois high school created several suggestions for other schools considering such a program. Directors should first consider who would benefit from a writing center and what these benefits would be. They must then prove--to themselves first, and then to the faculty and the…

An overview is provided of De Anza College's use of computerized instruction in its mathematics courses. After reviewing the ways in which computer technology is changing math instruction, the paper looks at the use of computers in several course sequences. The instructional model for the algebra sequence is based on a large group format of…

This module, recommended for third or fourth year high school students, consists of three parts. The first part (entitled "Knowing Plastics") gives some background information regarding the origin of plastics, their chemical and physical properties, and the different available types. The second part (entitled "Shaping…

A questionnaire was mailed to 50 major chemistry departments, 112 smaller chemistry departments, and 25 chemical engineering (CE) departments. The survey (included in an appendix) consists of a series of questions on two broad subjects--the current inventory at the surveyed institutions and the needs for instrumentation. Responses were received…

Past research on the effectiveness of laboratory training (the use of small group methods of experienced-based learning to produce personal change in attitudes and behaviors) has been deficient both in experimental design and in the concept of change. College students (N=128) participated in a study which used a series of 11 measurements to assess…

A description is provided of Los Angeles Valley College's Life Science Learning Center (LSLC), which provides: (1) a resource center addressed to the individualized learning needs of students served by the Biology Department; (2) a learning environment enabling students to proceed in self-paced, activity-centered, concept-oriented experiences in…

This handbook is intended as a resource for individuals involved in the development, operation, and expansion of school store laboratories. The first of three sections covers facility/laboratory planning. It includes detailed guidelines for establishing a new school store operation and remodeling or relocating an existing operation. Section II…

Drawing upon information gathered in a survey of eight two-year colleges and one four-year college, this paper discusses the status of writing within the two-year college system. Following introductory remarks, the paper gives a brief profile of one two-year college, Casper College in Wyoming, including data about its background, curriculum,…

A handbook for teaching assistants (TAs) at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park, is presented to provide information concerning departmental organization and facilities as well as teaching ideas and problems. TAs with the department are either graders who primarily grade homework and tests and…

This sourcebook contains a collection of laboratory exercises assembled for use in introductory physical geography classes taught at community colleges. Introductory sections address the origins of the sourcebook, the ways it differs from traditional laboratory manuals, and its form and anticipated use. Next, a list of terms or concepts,…

The purposes of water treatment in a marine steam power plant are to prevent damage to boilers, steam-operated equipment, and steam and condensate lives, and to keep all equipment operating at the highest level of efficiency. This laboratory exercise is designed to provide students with experiences in making accurate boiler water tests and to…

Perspectives on and methods in second language teaching have changed rapidly during the past 10 years. So also have the role and function of the language laboratory and the laboratory instructor. One area of concern, listening, has been somewhat neglected; generally it has been taught toward the end of increasing speaking proficiency. A review of…

An experiment was carried out at the University of Edinburgh to discover ways in which students might be helped to understand spoken language and to become more confident in their interactions in the language. As a result of the experiment findings, materials were designed to train students to perceive stress patterns, to internalize stress-timing…

This guide comprises four reports on the Laboratory Animal Data Bank (LADB), the National Institute of Health Environmental Protection Agency (NIH/EPA) Chemical Information System (CIS), nonbibliographic databases for the social sciences, and the Toxicology Data Bank (TDB) and Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS). The first…

The role of environmental stimuli in the control of cigarette smoking has been the object of theoretical speculation, but there have been few experimental demonstrations of the control exerted over smoking by environmental events. Self-report data on smoking in the natural environment were compared to observations made of smoking among subjects…