Recommends a constructivist approach to physics laboratory activities to make laboratories a place for personal maturation and cognitive growth. Describes class design in which ideas and techniques are exchanged which allow students the opportunity to initiate investigations based on early conceptual assumptions, and extend the investigation…

Describes a technological approach to teaching the relationships between biological form and function. Computer-assisted image analysis was integrated into a microanatomy course. Students spend less time memorizing and more time observing, measuring, and interpreting, building technical and analytical skills. Appendices list hardware and software…

Identifies and describes the differences in the problem-solving methods used by faculty teaching introductory chemistry and students enrolled in an introductory chemistry course. Results indicate that students correctly solve algorithmic-mode problems more frequently. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Focuses on the development of graphing skills through a data collection activity that answers the question of the relationship between rubber band width and flight distance. Includes definitions of terms and instructions for helping students construct line and bar graphs. (DDR)

Describes the collaboration between a university and an elementary school to establish a writing center at the elementary school, staffed by university students (preservice teachers). Describes the crucial role of ongoing formative assessment activity for both elementary students and the university preservice teachers. (SR)

Describes a partnership formed between Bentley College (Massachusetts) and General Mills to improve an undergraduate New Product Development course. Highlights include a team approach; the role of videoconferencing; developing a prototype product in the chemistry laboratory; feedback from General Mills; student reactions; and future possibilities.…

Describes four hands-on and inexpensive activities science teachers can employ to demonstrate, encourage, develop, and teach students the physical properties of light, heat, and sound waves, utilizing a coffee can. Details the basic experiments and provides additional information for tailoring the activities to elementary through middle…

Discusses the new informational and educational environment in China and considers the increasing needs for information and knowledge in Chinese higher education, focusing on information literacy. Highlights include the new learning environment; information skills education in Chinese universities; teaching materials; computer labs; courseware;…

Considers important procedures and policies for new teachers to consider during the first few weeks of school. Focuses on organization, engaging students, learning outside the classroom, and lab activity safety. (DDR)

Presents ideas to assist first year teachers in getting and staying organized. Includes file ideas, a basic supply list, and prompts for possible questions to ask as a new staff member. (DDR)

Explains how controlling student access to data can be used as a strategy enabling students to take the role of a research geologist. Students develop models based on limited data and conduct field tests by comparing their predictions with the additional data. (DDR)

Discusses research conducted in a middle school writing center that showed the necessity of a constructivist philosophy for the curriculum and the teaching process if information-seeking skills or writing is taught as a process. Problems with the teachers' use and understanding of the writing center are described. (Author/LRW)

To circumvent typical public schooling restrictions, an upstate New York middle school established a Lab School that functions outside the regular program. Lab School aims to provide practice in intellectual inquiry, delve into complex, demanding topics, create an interdisciplinary, problem-oriented curriculum, and experiment with assessment…

Describes a study that investigates both the use and usefulness of laboratory dissections and computer-based dissections in a tertiary, first-year human biology course. Explores attitudes toward dissection. (DDR)

Described is an activity where students determine the effect of different toothpastes on teeth. Students used observational data and pH changes to determine any changes in the teeth. Included are a list of materials, procedures, and results. (KR)