Hypothesis-Based Learning

Journal Article | December 2003

In an effort to improve inquiry learning in the classroom, the authors modified a standard, inquiry-based curricula to provide opportunities for students to discuss discrepant events. The tool, called Hypothesis-Based…

Cleaning Up the Environment: Students can learn important science concepts while providing valuable services to their communities

Journal Article | March 2005

Washington State now allows students to obtain a high school varsity letter in community service if they complete over 150 community service hours in a calendar year. With this in mind, the author has integrated…

Scope on the Skies: No place like home

Journal Article | September 2008

At a distance of 50.1 light years, the star 51 Pegasi represents an interesting milestone. When viewed today, the light you see from this star left the same year that President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics…

A Simple Approach to Improving Student Writing: An Example From Hydrology

Journal Article | April 2007

Using the simple approach described in this article, college science instructors can help students become independent thinkers and writers in science. The unique character of this approach is that it shows students how…

Scope on the Skies: The sky is falling

Journal Article | October 1999

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. In this issue, learn about the special events occurring in the months of November and December.

Scope on the Skies: The skies this summer

Journal Article | April 2003

Summer 2003 celestial events included a last look at Jupiter as an evening planet, a close view of Mars, and the Perseid meteor shower. In addition, three spacecraft were launched, which provided many opportunities to…

Libros de Ciencias en Español (2003)

Journal Article | February 2003

If we are to encourage Spanish speakers to observe, identify, describe, experiment, and explain phenomena, we should offer them a wide selection of activities that lead them enthusiastically to the study of scientific…

Teaching About Heat and Temperature Using an Investigative Demonstration

Journal Article | November 2011

This short and cost-effective lesson helps middle grade students learn about the transfer of thermal energy. The lesson comprises three activities: a predict-share-observe-explain sequence of instruction that elicits…

Hierarchical Learning Ensembles: Team Building for Undergraduate Scientists and Engineers

Journal Article | February 2006

This article describes the design and implementation of the Hierarchical Learning Ensemble (HLE) model, a pedagogy that assembles interdisciplinary teams of graduate, undergraduate, and secondary-level students to solve…

Research and Teaching: Undergraduate Success—and Failure—in Completing a Simple Circuit

Journal Article | September 2000

This research study was motivated by physics educators’ ubiquitous citing of the batteries and bulbs study (Thiberghien and Delacote, 1976) even though the literature has not reported on surveys of a large population…

Favorite Demonstration: Using Magnets, Paper Clips, and Ball Bearings to Explore Molecular Geometries

Journal Article | October 2010

The valence-shell electron-pair repulsion model (VSEPR model) provides a simple way of predicting the molecular geometries. However, the particularly challenging part in demonstrating the VSEPR models is to show the “…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Imaginative Inventions

Journal Article | June 2006

In today's fast-growing, highly competitive global marketplace, innovative thinking is more important than ever. Encourage your students' creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills with these technological…

Scratch This! The IF-AT as a Technique for Stimulating Group Discussion and Exposing Misconceptions

Journal Article | February 2008

Frequent and immediate feedback is critical for learning and retaining content as well as developing effective learning teams (Michaelson, Knight, and Fink 2004). The Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT)…

EQUIPping Teachers

Journal Article | March 2009

For many years, publications such as the National Science Education Standards (NRC 1996) and The Science Teacher (TST) have encouraged teachers to focus science classes more heavily on inquiry-based instructional…

Creating Curricula for Integrated Science: ARISE—Creating and implementing a coherent three-year integrated science course

Journal Article | August 2000

The traditional sequence for teaching science is biology first, then chemistry, and physics last. This article focuses on the Illinois State Board of Education's proposal for the development of a three-year coherent…