Many agencies, organizations, and researchers have called for the incorporation of inquiry-based learning in college classrooms. Providing inquiry-based activities in laboratory courses is one way to promote reformed, student-centered teaching in introductory geoscience courses. However, the literature on inquiry has relatively few geoscience…

Chromatography is a process by which mixtures can be separated or substances can be purified. Biological and chemical laboratories use many different types of chromatographic processes. For example, the pharmaceutical industry uses chromatographic techniques to purify drugs, medical labs use them to identify blood components such as cholesterol,…

Analyzes nine high school biology manuals to determine how well they promote the basic and integrated science process skills that are involved in scientific inquiry. Results indicate that the manuals seldom enable students to use their knowledge and experience to pose questions, solve problems, investigate natural phenomena, or construct answers…

Compares a broad cross-section of high school biology laboratory manuals with respect to several standard features as well as the degree to which they engage students in scientific inquiry. Discusses comparisons with respect to topics contained in the manuals, types of activities, lab exercises, and features of activities. (JRH)

Reviews and compares results of content analysis studies of selected high school science laboratory handbooks using the Laboratory Structure and Task Analysis Inventory (LAI). Findings from two biology, two chemistry, and two physics handbooks indicate highly structured investigations where students perform manipulative and observational…