Journal of College Science Teaching articles from March 2007

Journal of College Science Teaching archives from March 2007

Seen any red pandas lately?(Point of View)(Viewpoint essay)
March 1, 2007... We humans are pattern finders and explanation seekers. Fortunately, many of our seemingly reasonable patterns and explanations have not withstood the test of time. For example, we no longer believe that volcanic eruptions occur as a result of...

A Flock of Dodos.(The Case Study)(Critical essay)
March 1, 2007... dodo from doudo silly, stupid 1. an extinct heavy flightless bird (Raphus cucullarus) related to the pigeons but larger than a turkey, formerly present on the island of Mauritius 2. one hopelessly behind the times --Webster's New...

The many faces of inductive teaching and learning: this study examines the effectiveness and implementation of different inductive teaching methods, including inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, case-based teaching, discovery learning, and just-in-time teaching.
March 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Science courses are traditionally taught deductively. The instructor first teaches students relevant theory and mathematical models, then moves on to textbook exercises, and eventually--maybe--gets to real-world...

Integrating bibliographic software, database searching, and molecular modeling in an introductory biology course: a collaboration between the biology department and the science librarian.
March 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Librarians instruct students where to find information, but rarely demonstrate its management, while faculty have difficulty incorporating real-time laboratory experience with library research. This paper focuses on...

The impact of teaching assistants on student retention in the sciences: lessons for TA training.
March 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Attrition from the sciences remains a national problem. We present results from a survey of over 2,100 undergraduates that, contrary to previous research, suggests that teaching assistants (TAs) influence student...

Precisely! A writing exercise for science and engineering classes: this exercise, developed for science and engineering courses that have a significant writing component, teaches students the importance of linguistic precision.
March 1, 2007... While the formats and conventions of scientific and technical writing vary from field to field, the transcendent requirement is precision, so that the work can be understood and, if necessary, reproduced. Science teachers undoubtedly tell...

Collaborative teaching across freshman information technology and chemistry courses.
March 1, 2007... We incorporated chemistry into information technology (IT) programming assignments and (IT) problem solving into chemistry. At-risk students, performing well below control groups of their peers in both courses, achieved end-of-term chemistry...

Moving students from information recitation to information understanding: exploiting Bloom's taxonomy in creating science questions.
March 1, 2007... Recent studies have indicated that college undergraduates have retained little understanding of the information in the science courses they have taken when they graduate. Science is taught as detailed, factual content and most students are...

Web-based student writing and reviewing in a large biology lecture course.(Research AND Teaching)
March 1, 2007... Though difficult to implement in large courses, undergraduate science writing and peer review are valuable learning experiences for students and valid mechanisms for student evaluation. This study describes improved writing and reviewing skills...

The school dance, according to Le Chatelier.(Favorite Demonstration)
March 1, 2007... When teaching science or any other topic, an example of the concept being taught taken from students' past experiences is often valuable. A familiar situation can reduce the anxiety of an unfamiliar or intimidating subject and can make it more...

Never underestimate the dark side of the force.(Society for College Science Teachers)(science teaching)
March 1, 2007... In the Star Wars saga, Luke is regularly tempted to use the Dark Side of the force to achieve his goals. He always manages to resist temptation, however, thanks to the sage advice of his mentors and his fear of being overwhelmed by the power of...

Quantoons: Metaphysical Illustrations.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Quantoons: Metaphysical Illustrations Thomas Bunk. 2006. 243pp. $26.95. NSTA Press, Arlington, VA. ISBN: 0873552652. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Quantoons is a collection of reprints from NSTA's Quantum magazine with different components...

Great Ideas of Science: Plate Tectonics.(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Great Ideas of Science: Plate Tectonics Rebecca L. Johnson. 2005. 80pp. $27.93. Lerner Publications Co., Minneapolis, MN. ISBN: 0822530562. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each book in the series Great Ideas of Science poses a key scientific...

Thus Spoke Galileo: The Great Scientist's Ideas and Their Relevance to the Present Day.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Thus Spoke Galileo: The Great Scientist's Ideas and Their Relevance to the Present Day Andrea Frova and Mariapiera Marenzana. 2006. 370pp. $34.50. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN: 0198566255. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most of us...

Science Safety in the Community College.(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Science Safety in the Community College John Summers, Juliana Texley, and Terry Kwan. 2006. 222pp. $24.95. NSTA Press, Arlington, VA. ISBN: 0873552717. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Science Safety in the Community College is one of a series...

Planetary Motions: A Historical Perspective.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Planetary Motions: A Historical Perspective Norriss S. Hetherington. 2006. 224pp. $65. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT. ISBN: 031333241X. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now and again a resource comes along that provides a new look at an old,...

Flowers: How They Changed the World.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Flowers: How They Changed the World William Burger. 2006. 337pp. $23. Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY. ISBN: 1591024072. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Despite its ponderous title, this book provides fascinating and clearly explained information...

The Chemical Element: A Historical Perspective.(Book review)
March 1, 2007... The Chemical Element: A Historical Perspective Andrew Ede. 2006. 183pp. $65. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT. ISBN: 0313333041. Part of a series on the history of science, this book is clearly written for readers at the high school level or...

Civilized Life in the Universe: Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials.(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Civilized Life in the Universe: Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials George Basalla. 2006. 224pp. $29.95. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN: 0195171810. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a noted expert in the history of science,...

Our journal.(Editorial)(Editorial)
March 1, 2007... A little more than a year ago, I wrote in my first editorial that JCST was my favorite journal. I wasn't exaggerating. JCST is the one periodical I read cover to cover, finding almost every article applicable in some way to what I could be...

Milk tolerance.(Headline Science)
March 1, 2007... A discovery by an international team of scientists led by a University of Maryland researcher identifies, for the first time, genetic mutations in East Africans that are associated with the ability to digest milk as adults. Sarah...

Humanoid robots.(Headline Science)
March 1, 2007... A classic science-fiction scene shows a person wearing a metal skullcap with electrodes sticking out to detect the person's thoughts. Another science-fiction movie standard depicts robots doing humans' bidding. These two images have now been...