Discusses the factors influencing teacher effectiveness and focuses on online instruction. Points out the importance of hands-on experiences and inquiry as well as human interaction in education. Explains the limitations of online teaching. (YDS)

Discusses the conflict of creation versus evolution in education and challenges biology teachers in building a learning environment. Investigates the beliefs and ways of managing conflict of conservative Christians who were science teachers, future science teachers, science teacher educators, and scientists. Warns teachers against using strong…

Describes the "science forum" as a means of initiating discussion between students in different schools in a cooperative educational experience. Students from advanced biology classes in two high schools presented research papers and panel discussion followed. Involved persons included all levels of the educational community--administrators, PTA…

Describes a component of a general biology course that emphasizes use of the science library. Initial instruction involves use of standard reference materials. Then four in-library exams are assigned, where a research question is answered using reference materials. Student reactions have been favorable. (CS)

Describes taste experiences that are used to spark interest in studying high school biology. Emphasizes learning about survival, poisonous plants, endangered species, economic and nutritional importance of various organisms, and cultural education. (CS)

Reports findings on research in Red-winged Blackbird territoriality and describes the educational potential of use of similar studies in the classroom. Territorial mapping and observational techniques are explained. (CS)

Diagrams and explains construction of an actograph which quantitatively records daily movements of animals for a 24-hour period. Combines use of a kymograph and the teetering box of Palmer. Biorhythm activities with fiddler crabs, cockroaches, and hamsters are suggested. (CS)

Explains several laboratory exercises using the skin, including the mapping of receptors, counting of sweat glands, computation of total skin area, comparison of various animal skins, measurement of the palm triradius angle, and study of epidermal ridges (dermatoglyphics) in males and females. (CS)

Suggests unorthodox methods that may help to make studying more agreeable to students. Discussed are organizing complex cheat notes, use of chalkboard on pretending to give lectures on the subject to be mastered, developing an appreciation ("psyching out") for the professor's philosophy, and using flash cards for vocabulary mastery. (CS)

Described are science activities for monitoring bird migrations. (SL)

Examines some of the objections of secondary school teachers to the application of the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) or Keller Plan and provides reasons why these objections are not valid. (PEB)

Discussed and questioned is the credibility of the widely-held view concerning the role of impartiality and crucial experiments in science as exemplified by the 18th century controversy between Spallanzani and Needham. Science teachers are cautioned to remember that performing investigations and conducting experiments are tasks not entirely devoid…

Reiterates the need for freedom in science teaching to responsibly interpret the findings of science to students and the lay public without fear of reprisal. (BR)

Describes an innovative campus wide program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for undergraduate education. It is individually structured, student centered, project oriented and designed to produce a professional who works creatively with specialists from other disciplines and who has a wide awareness of the larger world of humanity. (BR)

Describes laboratory exercises with chickens selecting their food from dyed and natural corn kernels as a method of demonstrating natural selection. The procedure is based on the fact that organisms that blend into their surroundings escape predation. (BR)