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Journal Article

Printed Notes Versus Virtual Lectures: An Examination of Student Learning of Geoscience Content

Two geoscience course sections were provided with lecture content in different formats—one with static text that contained no graphics, the other with a link to a virtual lecture. Follow-up quizzes showed no difference in learning between the two s...

Journal Article

Tech Trek: An e-learning science fair

Traditional science fairs have been replaced by having students use sophisticated technology to participate in a virtual science fair that relies on the internet, e-mail, and other tools of the digital age. The new E-Learning Science Fair (ELSF) was ...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Capitalizing on student travel in Earth science classrooms

Students who take extended vacations during the school year can present a recurring challenge for educators. However, this article outlines creative strategies that will enrich students as they travel abroad, and engage them in the process of inquiry...

Journal Article

Dinosaur Day!

On Dinosaur Day, first-grade students rotated through four dinosaur-related learning stations that integrated science content with art, language arts, math, and history in a fun and time-efficient manner. The event drew parents, teachers, and student...

Journal Article

Learning Lessons from Estuaries

There is something that draws us all to the sea and especially to the fertile estuaries that nuzzle up to its shores. An estuary serves as both a nursery and a grave for sea creatures. This article describes annual trips to three islands in the Chesa...

Journal Article

Taking Inventory

A science kit inventory introduces students to tools and vocabulary, paving the way for successful science experiences. While it is an effective strategy for all students, it is especially useful for English Learners. This article describes how kit i...

Journal Article

A Partnership for Problem-Based Learning

So many demands are placed on high school teachers today. But the right kind of professional development can help teachers meet these challenges. A partnership among a high school biology teacher, a graduate student, and an assistant professor of bio...

Journal Article

Career of the Month: Historical Archaeologist

Historical archaeologists such as Mark Warner investigate through excavations and written records of how people lived in the recent past. This thrilling career involves the excavation of artifacts, in combination with written documents, and enables a...

Journal Article

Using an Authentic Radioisotope to Teach Half-Life

Traditionally, nuclear chemistry appears in the last few chapters of chemistry textbooks and is not normally considered a mainstream topic. Yet nuclear chemistry is a very important topic that should be taught in all chemistry classrooms. Today's tec...

Journal Article

Editor's Corner: Why is This Important?

When interconnections among science, technology, and society are made part of science teaching, we empower students with skills that allow them to become responsible, and thoughtful citizens. The articles in this issue of The Science Teacher provide ...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: Oobleck and Beyond

Finding innovative ways to teach 10th grade physical science students about the properties of the states of matter--as stated in the Physical Science Standards for Levels 9-12--can be a difficult task. To address this challenge, the author discovered...

Journal Article

Ask the Experts -- December 2005

The Experts give their "spin" on physical science concepts as they answer the question, "What does "spin" refer to in particle physics? Why is this concept necessary?" and "My physics teacher tells me that when I go around a sharp curve in my car, th...

Journal Article

Designing Project-Enhanced Environments

The concept of waves is fundamental due to its occurrence throughout the natural world (water, sound, and electromagnetic waves). Because the concept occurs in so many places, high school students come to the classroom with prior knowledge and miscon...

Journal Article

How to Have a Successful Science and Ethics Discussion

Students often come to class discussions with preformed opinions on many ethical issues. The challenging task for teachers is to help students learn to identify the facts of a case, recognize the underlying ethical dilemmas, and to understand the dif...

Journal Article

What's Living in Your World?

Teaching molecular technology within the framework of open scientific inquiry provides a dynamic learning experience for students. Because a wide variety of molecular protocols are now so reliable, teachers can emphasize scientific inquiry and experi...

Journal Article

Petroleum and the Environment

High school students should understand that environmental issues and concerns accompany both the production and consumption of petroleum. To help students explore this topic further, this article discusses how petroleum is used in everyday life, and ...

Journal Article

Professional Development Using an Interdisciplinary Learning Circle: Linking Pedagogical Theory to Practice

Science education reform requires innovative professional development initiatives. Here we report the success of an interdisciplinary learning circle that met regularly over the course of a year to explore pedagogical theory and develop action resear...

Journal Article

Understanding Evolution

While many states are facing challenges to the teaching of evolution in their science classrooms, the University of California Museum of Paleontology, working with the National Center for Science Education, has developed a useful web-based resource f...

Journal Article

Commentary: Improving Science Instruction

In this month's Commentary column, the author discusses the disturbing but true picture of science instruction in the United States, as outlined in a report from the National Research Council (NRC). As the NRC report editors concluded, we must become...

Journal Article

Learning Logs: Writing to Learn, Reading to Assess

Good inquiry activities help students hone their inquiry abilities and teach them about the nature of science. Inquiry is also a way to teach science content, and teachers need to know if this instruction is helping children gain these important ide...

Journal Article

Career of the Month: An Interview with Cryptographer Bruce Schneier

For the general public, the field of cryptography has recently become famous as the method used to uncover secrets in Dan Brown's, "The Da Vinci Code." But the science of cryptography has been popular for centuries--secret hieroglyphics discovered i...

Journal Article

Editor's Corner: Building Together

As modern science becomes more interdisciplinary, teachers look for activities and ideas that require thinking across the disciplines and include material from outside a strictly focused, discipline-based curriculum. In this issue of The Science Teac...

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: From Sap to Syrup

Warm days, cold nights, melting snow—signs winter is waning and spring is nearing. Though winter may just be getting started in your area, it’s always fun to appreciate the good things about winter, including the special time at the end of winter...

Journal Article

Piquing Student Interest with Pharmacology

Motivating high school students to learn basic biology and chemistry concepts is an ongoing challenge. To help students learn science concepts, the Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP) was developed. This science education program incorporates re...

Journal Article

Aspirin History and Applications

Of the thousands of drugs and medicines available for the prevention, treatment, and control of human disease and discomfort, the most widely used is aspirin. This article explores the historical development of aspirin and provides teachers with inst...

Journal Article

Science the "Write" Way

Learning to write well is a long process that comes through teacher modeling, instruction, practice, and feedback. Luckily, the writing process can be used to improve science learning too. This article describes how nonfiction writing activities hel...