While circulating the room during a classroom activity where preservice teachers are required to teach a mini-lesson to their classmates, Jane Metty's ear was drawn to one particular group where a student asked, "What color is blood?"--and heard the student teacher confidently answer, "Blue." She then began to wonder where…

At present, students and nonscientists still believe that a "theory" is just a mere hunch or a guess and that science is absolute. In this article, the author discusses that it is now time for teachers to correct these misconceptions. Teachers must explain to their students that the facts printed in science textbooks just happen to be the best…

Active engagement in the classroom is one of the best tools available for overcoming conceptual difficulties. Science educators agree that students of all ages learn more by participating actively in the interpretation of scientific phenomena (NAS 2003; NSF 1998). In this article, the authors describe demonstrations in class using paper wads as an…

Discusses some principles of biological taxonomy. The evolutionary principle in taxonomy and its limitations, and the difference in evolutionary patterns between plants and animals, are also discussed. (HM)

Presents a brief discussion of rules for consistent chemical equations writing, intended for college chemistry students and instructors. (HM)

Discusses assessment strategies in higher education. Emphasizes the ability of assessments to stimulate thinking and help students construct meaning of the scientific principles they have been taught. Highlights the role of assessment in providing feedback that can be used to improve instruction and enhance student learning. (JRH)

Highlights some National Science Board's science and engineering indicators that confirm that those who teach college-level science appear to be doing something right. Presents ideas about how they can continue to improve. (JRH)

Presents and defends the thesis that either teaching or research alone is not of much value without its counterpart. The argument is not that of teaching versus research but rather how to strengthen the link between teaching and research in higher education. (PR)