Describes the use of "contracting" as a method to remind students of the importance of independent investigations. The contract is an agreement for learning between the student and professor. (PR)

Describes the history, chemistry, and uses of sulfuric acid. Presents demonstrations with this the cheapest bulk acid that is available in every country of the world. (PR)

Describes approaches and benefits of having students make observations and inferences from tracking-pattern diagrams and actual tracks made in sandboxes. (PR)

Describes an exercise where a team of students constructs a scale map of objects located on their laboratory tabletop. Another group then tries to reorient the objects to fit the groups map. This leads to a discussion concerning the aspects of good and bad maps. (PR)

This article describes an environmental inventory, "Analyzing the Communication Environment," which allows the evaluator to analyze the extent to which specific activities encourage functional communication for particular students with severe communication impairments. The inventory may be used to compare different activities across the student's…

In this objective scoring procedure for assessing learning-disabled students' writing, a standardized process is used to collect writing samples, which are then scored for number of legible words, total number of words written, percentage of legible words, correctly spelled words, number of correct word sequences, and mean length of correct word…

A professor and educational researcher at Stanford University discusses the evolution of "normal schools" of teacher preparation into the teacher education programs of today, advocates the integration of content material into teacher education, and explains the concept of reflection in teaching. (KS)

Discusses teaching electrical safety guidelines in the process of teaching the concepts related to electricity. Discusses household current; electrical insulation; and examples of electrical safety in the home related to appliances, the bathroom, the yard and the neighborhood. (10 references) (MDH)

Gives practical notes and suggestions aimed at helping teachers to use newsclippings and other printed materials in science lessons. (PR)

Presents the text of the Presidential address delivered to the Association for Science Education. Presents personal perspectives on science education at all levels and indicates desired changes. (PR)

Describes simple and inexpensive labs for introducing students to fiber optic communications. Students investigate light as a carrier wave; look into the difficulties associated with "light" communication; and learn about modulation, optical fibers, and critical angles. (PR)

Describes a teaching strategy, used in a high school physics class, based on a series of "what if" questions. (PR)

Explains how fur color in domestic cats can be used as the basis of a science laboratory activity to teach the Castle-Hardy-Weinberg Law. (PR)

Presents an annotated list of nine selected resource materials from the ERIC Information System database that were designed by classroom teachers. Maintains that these provide effective alternatives to textbooks and other commercially produced materials. (CFR)

Describes a lecture/discussion activity in which students complete a kinship diagram and discuss the sociological concepts of status, norm, and role. Contends that students enjoy the activity and learn that social roles are determined by a set of expectations for appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Includes a model of the kinship diagram. (CFR)