Contends that mud dauber nests--which are widely available, safe, inexpensive, and easy to use--offer a novel and highly motivating way to teach ecological concepts to life science students at many grade levels. Presents background information for teachers, details classroom-tested methods for nest dissection, provides keys to nest contents, and…

Describes a Conceptual Understanding Procedure (CUP) designed to improve students' understanding of difficult concepts in senior secondary physics. CUPs are based on a constructivist view of learning, target individual students' ideas, and use cooperative learning. Though designed in a physics context, CUPs have equal applicability in other…

Describes the erroneous use of the term "dissolve" in chemistry textbooks to refer to what is, more properly speaking, a chemical reaction. (WRM)

Describes a simple, small-scale experiment that can be applied at any stage in a chemistry course, including acid-base reactions, solubility, reaction rates, equilibrium, and problem solving. (WRM)

Describes a study that sought to identify the attributes of high-quality science teachers at the junior high school level from the point of view of recent ex-students. Students described their best science teachers as presenting interesting and well-integrated hands-on activities, using a range of strategies to make lessons fun and interesting for…

Describes a professional development program that involved the use of a multimedia package called "Birds of Antarctica" to develop teachers' understanding of a constructivist epistemology in science education. Argues that teachers who engage themselves as learners in a professional development program have greater opportunities to successfully…

Describes a seminar where students explore emerging technologies through a series of labs that help boost their technical skills and their confidence in using and managing technology. Discusses charting the course, laboratory logistics, technology tips, and benefits. (JRH)

Describes a project where students publish their work on the World Wide Web. Enables students to share their work with other students and researchers around the world and to receive feedback from new sources. Discusses cyberscience, implementing web lab reports, and assessment strategies. (JRH)

Describes the Critical Issues Forum, a multidisciplinary program designed to encompass computer technology, current global issues, and effective teaching and learning practices. Features open-ended, collaborative activities that deal with current, real-world issues. Discusses analysis of the issues and integrating technology. (JRH)

Describes a research project where students use a wide variety of resources including the Internet to find information for their presentations on epidemiology. Highlights a few web sites that students have found particularly useful and interesting. (JRH)

Presents a unit on the periodic table that focuses on the concept of patterns and is designed to reach students with different learning styles. Describes seven laboratory stations, each focusing on a different learning style including bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, linguistic-verbal, visual-spatial, musical, intrapersonal, and…

Discusses the principles behind holograms: the design and procedure to make either a reflection hologram or a transmission hologram, developing the hologram, safety precautions, and classroom applications. (JRH)

Highlights the importance of considering the hazards, precautions, and emergency procedures pertinent to the safe handling of chemicals before introducing students to the laboratory. Discusses safety hazards depending on the chemical's properties including flammability, corrosivity, toxicity, and reactivity; eye protection; and physical hazards.…

Highlights the guidelines for assuring safety that are endorsed within the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Pathways to the Science Standards. Discusses findings of an ongoing study of 500 science teachers that indicate science teacher understanding of the National Science Education Standards and NSTA's guidelines as they relate to…

Presents guiding principles for developing interactive lessons for the World Wide Web. Describes "Amazing Space: Education Online from the Hubble Space Telescope", a program where students study spectacular Hubble Space Telescope images of stars and star-forming regions to learn about the life cycle of stars and the creation of atoms. (JRH)