Several potential safety problems are identified relative to science teaching: the use of bottled gas or alcohol lamps as heat sources, the hazards of Millon's Reagent for testing for proteins, and the use of silicon tetrachloride to demonstrate properties of chlorides. Science teachers are also warned about potentially dangerous procedures…

Attempts to identify skills shown when able students work on open investigations. Findings indicate that these students use knowledge, carry out preliminary work, decide on objectives, are flexible, use a range of techniques, attempt to quantify, seek information from different sources, use time efficiently, report work, show critical appraisal of…

Describes the development and provides an example of the type of student investigation that is now considered sufficient for the practical part of the 'A' level physics examination. (GS)

Presents an alternative series of investigations replacing the propanone-trichloromethane system (Topic 10) in the Nuffield A-Level course. A trichloromethane-ethyl ethanoate (acetate) system presented in four experiments give good results and removed the dangers arising from the other system. Topic 10 need not be re-written, just the replacement…

Presents recommendations sent to schools by the Laboratory Safeguards Sub-Committee in the United Kingdom to prevent hazards of a number of chemicals. How to avoid phosphorous fires and accidents from doing dangerous experiments in chemistry are also included. (HM)

Suggests sterile procedures which can be carried out to take a sample of blood (of one or two drops) from pupils to be used in school biology courses in the United Kingdom. (HM)

Presents two articles which are part of a series concerned with safety in school science in the United Kingdom. The two articles deal with restricted chemicals and experiments. (HM)

Describes the development of an innovative, multimedia, interactive CD-ROM aimed at helping teachers tackle the problem that students have with evaluating science laboratory work. (Author/WRM)

Describes a website designed to allow students to publish their own accounts of school science investigations they have carried out. Makes suggestions for initiating computer-mediated student discussions of the nature of science based on information contained in the website. (WRM)