All Resources

Journal Article

Exploring Seafloor Volcanoes in Cyberspace: NOAA's <i>Ocean Explorer</i> Inspires Inquiry

Seafloor exploration being done by scientists is an ideal way to introduce students to technology as a tool for inquiry. The same technology that allows scientists to share data in near real time can also provide students the tools to become research...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Online Homework and Student Achievement in a Large Enrollment Introductory Science Course

This article discusses a six-year study that involved an evaluation of whether student-learning gains for an online homework system could be sustained when scaled up to multiple sections and multiple instructors over several years. Results showed tha...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Yes I Can: The Contributions of Motivation and Attitudes on Course Performance Among Biology Nonmajors

This article discusses instruments given to undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory biology course for nonmajors. These instruments assessed attitudes toward biology and mathematics and various motivational constructs....

Journal Article

Step Up to Full Inquiry

The author provides five guidelines for designing inquiry lessons within any grade level....

Journal Article

The New Teacher's Toolbox: Gearing Up for Summer

This column shares tips for teachers just beginning their career. In this month’s issue the author offers tips for how to make the most of the summer months of rejuvenation....

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: Summer Skies

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. In this month’s issue the author discusses objects that appear in the summer sky....

Journal Article

Engaging Middle School Students With Technology: Using Real-Time Data to Test Predictions in Aquatic Ecosystems

Take advantage of teen internet savvy and redirect students' online travels toward exploration of our environment through streaming real-time data (RTD). Studies have shown that using RTD adds relevancy to students' learning experiences and engages t...

Journal Article

Is There a "Back" of the Room When the Teacher Is in the Middle?

This article describes a study of student seating habits in both a traditional lecture hall with the instructor in the front and in a SCALE-UP (Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs) studio-style classroom with the i...

Journal Article

Summer Reading—It's Element-ary

NSTA's reviewers provide suggestions for summer reading for science educators....

Journal Article

Tried and True: No Matter the Weather, We'll Measure Together

This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. In this month’s issue technology-infused weather investigations are explored....

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: Modeling Clay Safety

This column shares safety information for your classroom. In this month’s issue the author discusses the different types of clay and characteristics that determine appropriate use....

Journal Article

Closing the Loop: Involving Faculty in the Assessment of Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning Skills of Biology Majors

The Biology Department at James Madison University assesses scientific and quantitative reasoning skills in STEM majors in a content-independent manner by using a multiple-choice exam called the Natural World-9. The authors discuss methodology they u...

Journal Article

Everyday Engineering: It's (zipped) in the bag

This column provides an inside look at the marvels of engineering in everyday life. In this issue, the origins of the sealable plastic bag are explored....

Journal Article

Chromonoodles: Jump Into the Gene Pool

The authors use pool "noodles" to model chromosomes in the biology classroom. Students gain a greater appreciation of the interdependence of DNA and inherited traits....

Journal Article

Guest Editorial: More Than Just Technology

An opinion piece about integrating technology into teaching....

Journal Article

Safer Science: Know Your Responsibility

This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom and laboratory. This month’s issue discusses safety and liability issues in the science lab....

Journal Article

Simulating Science

Students use manipulative models and small-scale simulations that promote learning of complex biological concepts. The authors have developed inexpensive wet-lab simulations and manipulative models for "Diagnosing Diabetes" "A Kidney Problem?" and "A...

Journal Article

Feed Up, Feedback, and Feed Forward

In this article the authors describe how a kindergarten science teacher uses the feed up, feedback, and feed forward inquiry-based approach to assessment during a unit on conservation of resources....

Journal Article

The Early Years: Measuring Learning

This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. In this month’s issue the activity assesses what children understand about measurement....

Journal Article

Developing "Green" Business Plans: Using Entrepreneurship to Teach Science to Business Administration Majors and Business to Biology Majors

Biology majors team with business administration majors to develop proposals for "green" enterprise for a business plan competition. The experience gives students insight into the dynamics of cross-functional teaming and the challenges of learning di...

Book Chapter

What Are Nanoscience and Nanotechnology? A Nano Primer

In the examples presented in this chapter, the authors have defined the nanoscale and nanoscience. They have seen surprising results for two “ordinary” phenomena that they thought they knew everything about, but which were both shown to have su...

Book Chapter

Historical and Societal Aspects of Nanoscale Science and Technology

The nanorevolution is here to stay. It is this small scale—where we have the ability to put molecules and atoms to new uses—that fuels the hope and hype surrounding nanotechnology. This chapter discuses the origins of nanoscience, nanotechnology ...

Book Chapter

Introduction to Water Pollution

This lesson assesses students’ prior knowledge about groundwater pollution and has students investigate types and sources of water pollution. Note that this introductory activity sets the stage for subsequent learning about sources of water polluti...

Book Chapter

The Link Between Nanoscale Science, Technology, and a Vital Environmental Issue: Groundwater Pollution

Nanoscale science and technology play central roles in our understanding of how Earth works and in the environmental science field of study. As a freshwater source, groundwater is second in abundance only to water found in glaciers and polar ice. Gro...

Book Chapter

Microbe-Mineral Interactions: Using the Winogradsky Column to Demonstrate Bacterial Reduction of Iron(III)

In this lesson, students study the reduction of iron oxide minerals in a simulated anaerobic aquatic environment. Students discuss how the respiration of anaerobic bacteria may be involved with iron reduction. Students also consider problems related ...

Book Chapter

Investigation of Bacterial Transport in Groundwater

Students, in this lesson, explore the transport of bacteria in groundwater by performing a column experiment in a simulated groundwater environment. Students also investigate a groundwater scenario to learn about the influence of groundwater chemistr...

Book Chapter

Nano2Earth Curriculum Overview

The Nano2Earth curriculum is designed to promote student inquiry and learner centered investigations of microbe-mineral interactions at the nanoscale. This chapter shows how the curriculum is organized into lessons and to use the curriculum....

Book Chapter

Nanoforces in Nature: Using Atomic Force Microscopy to Explore Microbe-Mineral Interactions

This lesson uses computer simulations of an atomic force microscope to investigate bacteria-mineral forces of interaction on the order of nanonewtons over nanoscale distances of interaction. In this lesson, students • learn about the atomic force...