Education Commons^™

Can A College Level Biology Course For Majors Be Educationally Accountable?, Betty D. Allamong, Jon R. Hendrix

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Have we, as educators, reached a point in our society where "Truth in Learning" has become as important as "Truth in Lending'? We have seen government agencies mandate controls over banks, as well as auto-mechanics, to become more accountable for their services. Now, it seems that these same controls are to be levied on those in the educational systems of this nation as well.

Book Review - Loving And Beyond: Science Teaching For The Humanistic Classroom, Robert E. Yager

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Loving and Beyond is a soft cover book that provides practical suggestions for making the science classroom a humane place where student curiosity about their own environment can be nurtured and developed.

Eighteen Years Of The Hawkeye Science Fair, Dean Stroud

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Pre-planning for the first Hawkeye Science Fair began in 1958 when representatives of the Iowa Medical Society, the Des Moines Register and Tribune Co., and Drake University met to discuss the feasibility of organizing to sponsor a science fair. Later, the Scanlon Medical Foundation was added to the list of sponsors. The first fair was held in the spring of 1959.

Parsimonious Education, Darrell D. Young

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In science, the Law of Parsimony or Occam's Razor, is a statement of economy; it expresses the view that the simplest, adequate explanation of data is preferable to a more complex interpretation of equal adequacy. The Law of Parsimony may be applied to the area of education as well. It should be the ultimate goal of education to provide the simplest, adequate explanation in communicating to parents and students phenomenon occurring in the classroom.

Sunshots

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Looking for spectacular sun pictures? Get the November, 1976, issue of Natural History.

A Joint International Conference

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

1977 will be the 20th anniversary of the Science Teacher's Association of Manitoba.

© Copyright 1977 By The Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The American Chemical Society and the National Science Teachers Association have been constructing, standardizing and disseminating examinations in high school chemistry since 1953.

Purebred?, Wilmer J. Miller

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

A notion of "purity" and connotations of cleanliness, neatness, stability, uniformity, worthiness and admirable values click through our mental processes. After all, that's what we learn in biology, especially the genetic section, don't we? Well, maybe it's colored a bit by the horticulturalists' and stock breeders' influence, and dog and cat fanciers who want pedigree papers and conformity to some arbitrary standard. Poultry and small pet fanciers have about the same attitude, but rely less on papers. But "purebred" is jargon--at worst meaningless in the context of conflicting usages, and contemptuous in use by a more sophisticated group--breeders or teachers …

The Hazards Of Window Peeping, Sondra Waltz

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

When studying the development of a chick embryo by opening up an egg every few days to observe its growth, two problems arise. The first is that every egg does not begin its development at the same time or proceed at the same rate. Second, the disposal of the embryo after it has been studied (especially after taking on the appearance of a mature chick) is awkward. The psychological impact upon the child in killing the poor little chick is difficult to assess and, for some students, may even destroy the educational objectives of the whole study.

Iowa's Earliest Spring Flower, Roger M. Knutson

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

At a time when most wild flower fanciers have only memories of spring blooms, one of Iowa's less known plants is pushing up the earliest flowers of the season. The Eastern Skunk Cabbage can begin blooming in Northeast Iowa before mid-February, even when air temperatures are near -18°C.

Iowa Assist: Outreach Foci, Daniel S. Sheldon

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Iowa-ASSIST is a statewide program for improving science teaching in Iowa. ASSIST is an acronym for Alternative Strategies and Services for Improving Science Teaching. Iowa-ASSIST developed from several NSF-Supported Academic Year Institute programs for preparing science supervisors which were conducted in Iowa. It was established as a formal program in 1973. The program operated during 1973-76 with support of approximately $600,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Chem Ed 77

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

CHEM ED 77 is a conference for classroom chemistry teachers to be held 22-25 August, 1977, at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

More Snow Jobs, Paul Joslin

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

On the first day of snow, when the attention of children is obviously distracted from normal classroom procedures, have them bundle up and go outside. Once outside, have the students follow you in a line and form a circular path. You can then use the circle formed in the snow, to teach or review concepts associated with motion, time, direction, fractions and geometry.

Plant Growth Hormones

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The farmer of the future may one day spray chemicals that would simultaneously increase growth of specific crops while killing competing weeds, according to Dr. Robert Bandurski of Michigan State University.

Bioassay And Corn Coleoptiles, S. Lane Wilson

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In the 1930s, Dr. F. W. Went and R. Bonner conducted investigations into the factors regulating cell elongation in plants and their subsequent effect on plant growth. These studies eventually led to the isolation of a plant growth hormone called auxin. Auxin was finally identified chemically as indole-3-acetic acid or IAA.

Officers, Iowa Academy Of Science; Officers, Editors, Regional Directors, Iowa Science Teachers Section; Advisory & Technical Review Boards

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Cover - Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

From The Editor's Desk

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

A recent study by the U.S. House-Senate Joint Economic Committee indicates that solar energy will be Iowa's cheapest way to warm homes and heat water by 1985, if Congress removes the federal price limits on natural gas.

The ISTJ Advisory Board is pleased to announce the selection of an Associate Editor in Chemistry Education. Don Murphy, of Hoover High School in Des Moines, has been selected and has accepted the position.

Drought: A Time To Teach, Owen Primavera

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Is there a pattern to weather? Can drought be predicted with any degree of accuracy? These questions have been pondered by climatologists for years and make interesting topics for classroom discussion.

The Mole Hill Mnemonic, Mike Williams

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The concept of a mole in chemistry is difficult for many introductory students to understand. I have discovered a crutch which seems to help some students become operational while improving their understanding of the abstraction called a mole.

The Metric System

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

An informational fact sheet, Metric Units for Everyday Use, is free upon request from the U.S. Metric Association.

Your Population Is Raisin!, Joe Moore

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Sampling techniques are used to quickly estimate the size of populations within given sets.

From The Editor's Desk

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The lead article in this issue suggests that, in the near future, computer outlets may be available in many more schools in Iowa. The utilization of computers in science classrooms has been well documented. The different ways that computers can be used in science classrooms are limited only by the creative imagination of science teachers. Computers are even being used to make out examinations.

Cover - Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Freedom!, W. T. Lippincott

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Just about the easiest thing we could do these days is to give in to student demands that they be taught according to their own standards, needs, and perceptions, and in ways that will least interfere with their life style.

Reaction Time

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Have 10 or more students hold hands in a line. Squeeze the hand of the first student, then he squeezes the hand of the second student, etc.

Honors To Iowans, Dave Fagle

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Two Iowa science educators (Sondra Waltz and Robert Yager) recently received honors at the National Convention of the National Science Teachers Association held during March, 1977, at Cincinnati, Ohio. These honors were bestowed upon the recipients because of their excellence in teaching and distinguished professional leadership.

A Noteworthy Physics Program: Is Individualization The Answer?, Walter J. Gohman

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

My career as a physics teacher began in 1938. This was the year that I was assigned to teach my first physics class. My undergraduate field was biology. I needed something to compensate for my very inadequate background in physics.

A Negative Sodium Ion?

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Chemistry textbooks will have to be rewritten again because of a new discovery at Michigan State University.

Milkweeds

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Recent studies indicate that seedlings of some plants, when subjected to aqueous extracts of milkweed leaves, have their growth inhibited.