Describes the function of the various parts of the microscope and their integration in the formation of an optical image. Presents a procedure for setting up a microscope to obtain maximum resolution and contrast for each objective lens at all magnifications. (JRH)

Reports on how science teachers might work to improve their students' use of science process skills in ways that will contribute to their meaningful learning during laboratory activities. (Author/WRM)

In a Finnish study of four different academic disciplines, Ylijoki (2000) found that in Computer Science there was a disparity between the conceptions held by undergraduate students and staff about their discipline; students viewed it as being far more pragmatic and results focused than did their instructors. Not surprisingly, here at our…

Presents a science project involving the production, transportation, handling and preparation of food for human consumption. Calculations of caloric value of the food intake and the energy costs of cooking are included. (Author/SA)

Suggests that because controlled experiments are used extensively by professional ecologists to solve both theoretical and applied problems, experimentation should be a key component of secondary school ecology curricula. Describes five teaching principles to guide secondary school biology teachers in providing a more realistic view of the…

Young children in Australia enter early childhood education settings eager to make sense of the world that surrounds them. Their interest in every day experiences is evident in the range of questions asked, many of which are scientific in nature. Intended as a resource for adults working with 4-to 8-year-old children, this booklet provides an…

In this article, the authors trace the emergence of an institutional discourse of ethical research and interrogate its effects in constituting what ethical research is taken to be and how ethical researchers are configured. They illuminate the dissonance between this regime of truth and research practice and the implications for the injunction to…

Describes the method used at Macquarie University, Australia, for implementing the home experiment approach in first-year biology. The sequences of activities for experiments in plant growth are included; and assignment sheets are appended. (CS)

Discusses some problem areas as they presently exist in many secondary school laboratories in Australia, and presents some views on how safety in science should be presented to the Australian students. (Author/HM)

Presents articles on: the measurement of flouride levels in natural waters; the effect of sunlight on the rate of chlorine decomposition in a swimming pool; and curriculum development in Australian agriculture science. (MLH)

Perceptions of students in a Year 10 classroom were compared with those of their teacher at each of six schools with regard to the aims, regularity, conduct and assessment of laboratory work. Students in five of the schools had statistically different views from their teacher about the relative importance of 10 aims of laboratory work,…

Examines student and teacher perceptions about the purpose and effectiveness of laboratory work at Year 10. The views of students and their teacher on the goals, conduct, and assessment of laboratory work were compared. Findings suggest that the relevance of laboratory work to everyday life could be made clearer to students. This may entail…

International Grammar School was founded twenty years ago on the belief in the benefits of immersion language learning for children. It offers immersion second language learning in German, Italian, French, and Japanese which continues through kindergarten into the high school years. With language as the medium and not the object of learning,…

Describes an experiment that uses the Tain Electronics TCS2 interface to investigate the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. Discusses the following topics: assembling the system, forces in the system, software, and data analysis. (JRH)