Describes a course that grafts discussion of scientific ideas onto students' natural enthusiasm for public policy issues. Includes a group of topics that afford substantive discussion of important scientific ideas. Helps students explore vivid connections between scientific knowledge and public policy, including building the atomic bomb and public…

Describes a low cost, easily emulated project designed to improve classroom teaching methods. Discusses the benefits of peer evaluation and lists the criteria used for selecting participants. Highlights lessons learned from the project. (JRH)

Describes an inexpensive, homemade student response system that sparks student attention and participation in large lecture halls. Highlights the goals and design of the system as well as its current status and future plans. Contains 15 references. (JRH)

Discusses how traditional lab exercises can be converted into investigative exercises. Describes an exercise on seed germination that has students design their own experiments based on their initial results. Involves students in the scientific process and allows them to experience the joys and disappointments of experimental work. (JRH)

Describes the use of supplemental instruction in an introductory chemistry course designed for freshman nursing students and explores its impact on student performance and response to the program. Results indicate a positive impact of supplemental instruction and its popularity with students. Contains 22 references. (JRH)

Discusses the need for providing graduate teaching assistants (TAs) with training in pedagogy with the focus on preparing the future professoriate. Describes a general TA program for new TAs and a program for biology TAs at Syracuse University. Contains 20 references. (JRH)

Describes a non-laboratory science course for nonscience majors that actively engages students in a variety of learning activities. Highlights students' positive evaluations of the course. Also describes active learning experiences incorporated into the course. (JRH)

Examines a report, The Assessment of Performance in Design and Technology, that attempts to assess problem-solving abilities in the field of design. Describes pilot projects, an extended project, and some test projects. Summarizes a research project on identifying when and where design appears in the school curriculum and discusses developing…

Discusses the importance of science educators becoming familiar with electronic resources. Highlights the publication Science Teaching Reconsidered: A Handbook, which is designed to help undergraduate science educators. Addresses gender concerns regarding the use of educational resources. Lists science education and career resources on the web.…

Describes the construction of electric motors that can be used to teach students the basic principles underlying the direct current motor. (JRH)

Discusses two future publications: (1) a monograph that showcases innovators, reveals the problems and barriers they had to conquer, and explains how they overcame those obstacles and (2) a teaching manual for beginning and experienced college teachers who want to know more about some of the newest thinking to emerge on the topic of classroom…

Critiques the use of computer-generated graphics and text in place of overhead projector transparencies in large lecture halls. Describes an experience in such a situation and suggests that colleagues can be helpful in assessing the effectiveness of educational innovations. (DDR)

Provides background information on Advanced Placement science courses and how colleges and universities handle credit for these courses. Argues that university and high school faculty could work together with great benefit to students. (DDR)

Explains a component of an introductory genetics course that exposes students to bioethical issues and the social responsibilities of scientists. Students engage in discussion in an interdisciplinary format. (DDR)

Describes a trend in science teaching marked by shifts in philosophies and practices and by a search for science content that draws from the experiences of a culturally diverse student population. (DDR)