JoinUsing Scoring Rubrics to Evaluate Inquiry
This article explores the problem of assigning grades to students engaged in nontraditional activities, especially scientific inquiry. The authors suggest using scoring rubrics to guide students in their work and to assist teachers with grading. They present the steps involved in the construction of rubrics, and also include sample rubrics in this article.
This article explores the problem of assigning grades to students engaged in nontraditional activities, especially scientific inquiry. The authors suggest using scoring rubrics to guide students in their work and to assist teachers with grading. They present the steps involved in the construction of rubrics, and also include sample rubrics in this article.
This article explores the problem of assigning grades to students engaged in nontraditional activities, especially scientific inquiry. The authors suggest using scoring rubrics to guide students in their work and to assist teachers with grading. They present the steps involved in the construction of rubrics, and also include sample rubrics in this article.
The Laughter-Learning Link
These high-interest activities use humor to complement traditional classroom learning. For example, after completing a three-week unit of physics labs, middle school students watched several Three Stooges films and looked for examples of physics principles in action. In another example, students create humorous cartoons to illustrate one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Although science is, by nature, a serious business, each activity will help students identify and explain the concepts taught while enjoying themselves in the process!
These high-interest activities use humor to complement traditional classroom learning. For example, after completing a three-week unit of physics labs, middle school students watched several Three Stooges films and looked for examples of physics principles in action. In another example, students create humorous cartoons to illustrate one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Although science is, by nature, a serious business, each activity will help students identify and explain the concepts taught while enjoying themselves in the process!
These high-interest activities use humor to complement traditional classroom learning. For example, after completing a three-week unit of physics labs, middle school students watched several Three Stooges films and looked for examples of physics principles in action. In another example, students create humorous cartoons to illustrate one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Although science is, by nature, a serious business, each activity will help students identify and explain the concepts taught while enjoying themselves in the process!
Point of View: The Community College Funding Gap
In this month’s opinion piece, the author expresses her displeasure with President Bush’s commitment to provide more funding for community colleges, made in his third State of the Union address in January 2004. He proposed “increasing our support for America’s fine community colleges, and I will do that so they can train workers for industries that are providing the most jobs.” She feels that Bush shortchanged the role community colleges play in higher education, as enrollment is not limited to industry training programs. She asserts, "academic programs at community colleges are drastically underfunded, and that is where funds need to go." As 4-year colleges become more financially inaccessible, the role of the community college grows.
In this month’s opinion piece, the author expresses her displeasure with President Bush’s commitment to provide more funding for community colleges, made in his third State of the Union address in January 2004. He proposed “increasing our support for America’s fine community colleges, and I will do that so they can train workers for industries that are providing the most jobs.” She feels that Bush shortchanged the role community colleges play in higher education, as enrollment is not limited to industry training programs.
In this month’s opinion piece, the author expresses her displeasure with President Bush’s commitment to provide more funding for community colleges, made in his third State of the Union address in January 2004. He proposed “increasing our support for America’s fine community colleges, and I will do that so they can train workers for industries that are providing the most jobs.” She feels that Bush shortchanged the role community colleges play in higher education, as enrollment is not limited to industry training programs.
Idea Bank: The Area of an Irregular Object
Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct application of these skills provides an interdisciplinary science-math approach to solving problems. One such application is for students to determine the area of an irregular object, which is described here.
Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct application of these skills provides an interdisciplinary science-math approach to solving problems. One such application is for students to determine the area of an irregular object, which is described here.
Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct application of these skills provides an interdisciplinary science-math approach to solving problems. One such application is for students to determine the area of an irregular object, which is described here.
Science 101: What's the difference between frogs and toads?
Frogs and toads belong to a group of Amphibians known as Anura (Latin for "without tail"). Though different on many levels, frogs and toads share some basic similarities. Here are the basic facts about these animal favorites.
Frogs and toads belong to a group of Amphibians known as Anura (Latin for "without tail"). Though different on many levels, frogs and toads share some basic similarities. Here are the basic facts about these animal favorites.
Frogs and toads belong to a group of Amphibians known as Anura (Latin for "without tail"). Though different on many levels, frogs and toads share some basic similarities. Here are the basic facts about these animal favorites.
Science 101: Are there different types of force and motion?
"Red Rover! Red Rover let Jesse come over!" Young students are familiar with the observable effects of force and motion but may not have considered the many varieties demonstrated in simple ways every day on the playground. This brief article offers the basics of force and motion for teachers.
"Red Rover! Red Rover let Jesse come over!" Young students are familiar with the observable effects of force and motion but may not have considered the many varieties demonstrated in simple ways every day on the playground. This brief article offers the basics of force and motion for teachers.
"Red Rover! Red Rover let Jesse come over!" Young students are familiar with the observable effects of force and motion but may not have considered the many varieties demonstrated in simple ways every day on the playground. This brief article offers the basics of force and motion for teachers.
Finding Science Past and Present: National Buildings Museum, Washington, D.C.
The National Buildings Museum, which was founded in 1980, is perhaps the only museum focusing exclusively on the art and science of design and building construction in the United States. Exhibits and programs explore the nation’s constructed environment and examine innovations in construction, engineering, design, and landscape architecture through urban planning models, photos, and other types of media. The museum’s most important artifact is the building in which it is housed. This structure was revolutionary in design when it was first constructed and is now, according to its own brochure, a “case study of achievement in the building arts.”
The National Buildings Museum, which was founded in 1980, is perhaps the only museum focusing exclusively on the art and science of design and building construction in the United States. Exhibits and programs explore the nation’s constructed environment and examine innovations in construction, engineering, design, and landscape architecture through urban planning models, photos, and other types of media. The museum’s most important artifact is the building in which it is housed.
The National Buildings Museum, which was founded in 1980, is perhaps the only museum focusing exclusively on the art and science of design and building construction in the United States. Exhibits and programs explore the nation’s constructed environment and examine innovations in construction, engineering, design, and landscape architecture through urban planning models, photos, and other types of media. The museum’s most important artifact is the building in which it is housed.
The Case Study: The Case of the Dividing Cell—Mitosis and Meiosis in the Cellular Court
The Honorable Judge Cellular is presiding over the case of the State v. Egg Cell Number 6624223. As the prosecuting attorney calls each witness to the stand and the courtroom drama unfolds, students learn about the stages of mitosis and meiosis and their particular characteristics, and how cell division in prokaryotes differs from that in eukaryotes.
The Honorable Judge Cellular is presiding over the case of the State v. Egg Cell Number 6624223. As the prosecuting attorney calls each witness to the stand and the courtroom drama unfolds, students learn about the stages of mitosis and meiosis and their particular characteristics, and how cell division in prokaryotes differs from that in eukaryotes.
The Honorable Judge Cellular is presiding over the case of the State v. Egg Cell Number 6624223. As the prosecuting attorney calls each witness to the stand and the courtroom drama unfolds, students learn about the stages of mitosis and meiosis and their particular characteristics, and how cell division in prokaryotes differs from that in eukaryotes.
The First Days of School offers anecdotal notes for new teachers and seasoned veterans on how to successfully facilitate your classroom in the first few days. These strategies will set the stage for the degree of success in your classroom over the course of the school year. This text includes suggestions on classroom management, lesson planning, and building a rapport with students.
The First Days of School offers anecdotal notes for new teachers and seasoned veterans on how to successfully facilitate your classroom in the first few days. These strategies will set the stage for the degree of success in your classroom over the course of the school year. This text includes suggestions on classroom management, lesson planning, and building a rapport with students.
Peer-reviewed, classroom-tested, and tailored specifically for introductory science courses, Favorite Demonstrations is an essential complement to every college instructor’s lesson plans.
The book is an all-in-one compilation of 36 popular classroom demonstrations published since 1993 in the “Favorite Demonstration” column of NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching.
The book is an all-in-one compilation of 36 popular classroom demonstrations published since 1993 in the “Favorite Demonstration” column of NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching.
Peer-reviewed, classroom-tested, and tailored specifically for introductory science courses, Favorite Demonstrations is an essential complement to every college instructor’s lesson plans.
The book is an all-in-one compilation of 36 popular classroom demonstrations published since 1993 in the “Favorite Demonstration” column of NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching.
The book is an all-in-one compilation of 36 popular classroom demonstrations published since 1993 in the “Favorite Demonstration” column of NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching.