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Journal Article

Creating a Research Environment in an Introductory Cell Physiology Course: A West Chester University Class Molds Students into "Scientists-in-Training"

This introductory cell physiology course for majors encourages them to experience the scientific way of knowing. The article stresses the importance of elevating the perception of students' capabilities and allowing them to discover their own way of ...

Journal Article

Point of View: Miles Pickering—A Bibliography—A Chemistry Educator's Legacy

This column shares reflections or thoughtful opinions on issues of broad interest to the community. This month’s issue features a bibliography of Miles Pickering, a Princeton University chemistry department lecturer and senior staff member....

Journal Article

Cognitive Development in an Integrated Mathematics and Science Program: Reversing Cognitive Deficits—Restoring Students' Sense of Meaning and Understanding

This freshman core program in mathematics and science was developed at Bloomfield College, and revised and implemened at Lehman College. This learning is a joint venture—the student must be an active participant and work through perhaps one of the ...

Journal Article

The Case Study: What Makes a Good Case? Some Basic Rules of Good Storytelling Help Teachers Generate Student Excitement in the Classroom

This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. This month’s issue concludes that a "good case" tells a short story with focus on a current, intere...

Journal Article

Editorial: Bright Light in Encinitas

The Journal of College Science Teaching’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Journal Article

Investigative Learning in Undergraduate Freshman Biology Laboratories: A Pilot Project at Virginia Tech—New Roles for Students and Teachers in an Experimental Design Laboratory

What turned these kids on is an investigative approach—where they could do the thinking. Although the advantages of investigative laboratories have already been documented, this report is unique because it focuses on changing faculty perspectives ...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Evolution vs. Conservative Religious Beliefs—Can Biology Instructors Assist Students with Their Dilemma?

There are several topics that give students concern, but evolution is the most troubling subject area covered in biology courses. The purpose of this study is to assess the students' understanding and acceptance of the credibility of the scientific e...

Journal Article

An Integrated Content/Process Approach to Teaching Science to Elementary Teachers: Bridging the Gap Between Teacher Training Programs and the Sciences at a California State University Campus

The California State University campus at San Marcos introduced a new teaching model, CPAE (Content-Process-Application-Evaluation), to improve science teacher education. This article helps to understand how the CPAE approach effectively overcomes m...

Journal Article

Society for College Science Teaching: Reform and Improvement of University-Level Science Teaching—A New Book that Serves as a Guide to Breaking Ineffective Teaching Habits

In this column the leadership of SCST shares its views with JCST readers. This month’s issue features a new book, Methods of Effective Teaching and Course Management, an excellent resource for college and university teachers committed to reform an...

Journal Article

On the Road to Damascus—Technology, Fear, and Fear of Technology

Computer and computer technology have become a revolutionary force for reshaping both society and education at all levels. This revolution is taking place in both the developed and developing world with far-reaching consequences....

Journal Article

Society for College Science Teachers: NSTA's Boston Convention in March ’99—It’s time to Start Thinking About Program Proposals

In this column the leadership of SCST shares its views with JCST readers. In this month's issue find out the importance of submitting program proposals almost a full year in advance of a convention....

Journal Article

Making Science Come Alive: Bucking the Declining Science Major Enrollment Trend at Annapolis—The Lure of the "Oceanography Summer Cruise"

Our nation is experiencing a general trend of declining enrollments in mathematics and science majors study tracks. The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Oceanography major is "bucking this trend" with a combination of non-traditional appraches that can be a...

Journal Article

Evolutionary Steps: A Stairway-Created Display of the History of Life—How a Xavier University Biology Class Plots Earth's Major Evolutionary Events

The students at Xavier University's general biology course learn about evolution by ascending a stairway in a science building. Along the stairwell walls students examine fossils and explanatory texts while the ascending stairs represent a climb thro...

Journal Article

Reinvigorating Introductory Biology: A theme-based, Investigative Approach to Teaching Biology Majors—Making Science More Meaningful at an All-Women's College

This theme-based, investigative approach to teaching introductory biology offers faculty a way to emphasize the process of science over content. Students appreciate the freedom to test their own ideas and to become active participants in the learning...

Journal Article

Guest Editorial: Science Literacy and the U.S. Congress—A Call from Capitol Hill for Increased Cooperation in Meetng U.S. Technological Challenges

An opinion piece about the important role Congress plays in shaping our national research and development enterprise. Their actions are critical to the success of advancing fundamental scientific understanding and our ability as a nation to deal with...

Journal Article

Student-Designed Experiments in Scientific Lab Instruction: Students at the University of Puerto Rico Go back to the Basics to Learn Chemistry Concepts

Student-designed experiments emphasize depth of understanding. Revisiting "known" concepts like heat, temperature, uncertainty in measurements, mass, and volume, helps students deepen their understanding. Having to apply them in a new situation makes...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Student Self-Assessment of Higher-Order Cognitive Skills in College Science Teaching

A wide consensus exists among researchers that the development of students' abilities to ask questions, reason, problem solve, and think critically—in short, higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS)—should become a central focus of current science ed...

Journal Article

Point of View: Do Academic Research Costs Drive up Undergraduate Tuition?

This column shares reflections or thoughtful opinions on issues of broad interest to the community. This month’s issue focuses on the tuition and fee increases for colleges and universities....

Journal Article

Sharpening the Craft of Scientific Writing: A Peer-Review Strategy to Improve Student Writing

Writing is vital to the success of a scientist. Incorporating peer review into courses is an excellent way to enhance the scientific writing experience. Students find that the process of reviewing the work of peers and being subject to peer review ex...

Journal Article

The Case Study: What is a Case? Bringing to Science Education the Established Teaching Tool of Law and Medicine

This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. This month’s issue features both medicine and law cases that are real stories....