Designing and Implementing a Hands-On, Inquiry-Based Molecular Biology Course

Journal Article | April 2007

Inquiry-based learning was used to enhance an undergraduate molecular biology course at Georgia Southern University, a primarily undergraduate institution in rural southeast Georgia. The goal was to use a long-term, in-…

Careers in Science: An Interview with Forensics Technician Jason Birchfield

Journal Article | February 2003

This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. In this month’s issue learn how Jason Birchfield became interested in forensics and how he's a working example of why science is for…

A Service-Learning Model for Science Education Outreach

Journal Article | August 2006

The Science Education Outreach Program (SEOP) engages undergraduate students from a variety of academic disciplines in service-learning experiences. University and community educators introduce and model contemporary…

The Great Invention Adventure

Journal Article | June 2005

Guided by an Inventor’s Log and the process of scientific inquiry, students problem solve, think creatively, and budget their time and resources to brainstorm and build an invention. Students present their inventions to…

Formative Assessment Probes: The Mitten Problem

Journal Article | February 2011

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. In this month’s issue, the theory of "immaculate insulation" is prevalent among students. This formative assessment probe will help students overcome this…

Using Technology in the Classroom

Journal Article | June 2011

The author describes how she has come to use technology in her classroom over the years. Her main topics include using the internet, experiencing podcasts, using technology for assessment, and recording results from…

Editor's Note (January 2005)

Journal Article | December 2004

In this section the editor discusses opportunities for teachers to demonstrate science concepts on the playground or in one's local neighborhood. The current journal issue is dedicated to finding and using these local…

Science Sampler: Literacy for the digital generation—Enabling students to develop 21st-century skills through real-world chemistry

Journal Article | November 2010

A method for elevating the thinking level of students while accommodating their digital needs is to use real-world, problem-based projects. One such project is the Poison Blog, which requires middle school students to…

Learning About Genetic Inheritance Through Technology-Enhanced Instruction

Journal Article | September 2012

One approach that has shown potential for teaching genetics to middle school students is the use of technology-enhanced instruction, which may lead to increased visualizations. This article describes how a technology-…

Testing for Toxins Using <i>Daphnia spp.</i> and Table Salt

Journal Article | March 2013

Conduct a simple toxicity test with a familiar chemical. Students learn about key concepts in science, including measuring volume and mass, serial dilutions, and data collection and interpretation.

Teacher's Toolkit: No Child Left Behind -- What does this mean to middle school science teachers?

Journal Article | October 2006

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 is the historic education reform effort that President Bush proposed his first week in office, which Congress passed into law on January 8, 2002. NCLB reauthorized the…

Learning from Standards-Based Exams: Analyzing student answers to a statewide exam helps a teacher improve his instruction

Journal Article | December 2003

In this article, find out how a careful analysis of student answers to the standards-based exams proved to be an important instructional tool.

After the Bell: Parents as teachers—how teachers can help parents promote science literacy

Journal Article | August 2002

This article contains three simple, highly effective strategies that can be shared with parents to encourage students' more active learning, thinking, and processing of information.

Editor’s Corner: A Community of Learners

Journal Article | March 2008

In addition to supporting the exchange of ideas within the science teaching community, The Science Teacher (TST) also supports the notion of community in its widest sense, by including articles that connect students and…

Tried and True: How the brain visually perceives the world

Journal Article | June 2006

The eyes are said to be the "mirror of the soul" or similiar to the "lens of a camera." Have you ever wondered how such a small feature of our anatomy can have such a big impact on our abilities to perceive the world…