Education Commons^™

How Are We Stacking Up?: Current Reforms In Science Education Twelve Years After Publication Of The National Science Education Standards, Robert E. Yager

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In education Science-Technology-Society (STS) is commonly viewed as another add-on to a course or the curriculum. This view portrays STS as being plagued with the same problems as traditional teaching of science and technology; information is transmitted to students by lecture, verification laboratories, or textbooks and other written materials. This article presents the case that STS instruction, when effectively implemented, captures more broadly key aspects of both science and technology, and does not succumb to the common problems of traditional instruction. Essential characteristics of effective science teaching are presented.

Rounding Up Students' Conceptions On Circular Motion, Shannon Mclaughlin

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on how introducing circular motion with a carefully designed sequence of demonstrations and activities consistent with the national standards, pedagogical knowledge, and research-based instructional practices can flush out students' conceptions of forces and motion, and set a conceptual foundation for understanding uniform circular motion. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, B, and E, and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Circuits Without Wires?: Helping Students Understand The Power Of Ions, Elizabeth Potter, Caroline Kelly

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The activity described here provides an inquiry experience using familiar materials to promote student exploration and understanding of ions and ionic compounds. Familiar materials throughout the laboratory help students relate science to the real world and students are able to use their understanding of those materials. This activity uses an inquiry approach that requires students to make more decisions about their experiment, but does not expect students to discover scientific ideas. This article identifies many ways that the nature of science should be incorporated into the learning experience so that students improve their understanding of what science is and how …

Title Page - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

The Helping Hand: An Administrator's Role In Encouraging And Supporting Effective Science Teaching, Robert L. Clark

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Science teaching that mentally engages students and promotes all the goals we have for students, including a deep understanding of science content and the nature of science, is extremely difficult. That sort of teaching deviates significantly from the time-honored approaches that have permeated our schools for as long as any of us can remember. Because of that, many institutional constraints exist that make implementing effective science teaching even more difficult. This article addresses the principal's crucial role as an educational leader, the principal's responsibility to encourage and support effective science teaching practices, and efforts made in one building toward these …

Colorblindness: Invisible Disability, John Stiles

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In nearly every classroom sits at least one student who is unable to distinguish between certain colors. This incurable, genetic, and sex-linked condition is particularly frustrating in science class, a subject in which color discrimination is frequently required. Teachers are often unaware of this invisible disability, which many "colorblind" students try to keep secret in order to avoid embarrassment. There are a number of modifications a science teacher can make to reduce, or in some instances remove, barriers to learning for colorblind students. In addition, a simple, free test may help identify young children who have color difficulties, so they …

Knowing Versus Understanding: Teaching That Goes Beyond Trivialities, John Stiles

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In this century of science and technology, it is essential that students learn to critically assess science issues in historical perspectives. The traditional method of teaching students to memorize information bits cannot accomplish the goal of creating a science- and technology-literate public. However, if teachers transform their learning environment into one that encourages and supports student conceptual understanding, not only will graduates be able to make informed decisions regarding science, but numerous studies show that student achievement also increases, often dramatically. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standard A and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8.

The Unknown Factor: Helping Students Understand Mendelian Genetics And The Nature Of Science, Chris Robinson

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Teaching science concepts in the same chronological order that the knowledge was developed by the scientific community is an effective way of promoting understanding of the concept as well as a greater appreciation for scientific inquiry. This activity mentally engages students and provides them a sense of discovery that Gregor Mendel must have felt over 150 years ago when he came to understand inheritance. Finally, by putting Mendelian genetics into a historical perspective, students will gain a greater understanding of scientific processes and the history and nature of science. This activity promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, C, E …

Making A Splash: A Population Study Of Orcas And Its Application For Student Inquiry In Iowa, Laura Howell

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The author participated in an Earthwatch Institute sponsored population survey of the Southern Resident Orca (killer whales). The two main aspects of this survey were to study the Orca population and to monitor the effects of humans on them. Orcas are listed as a "threatened" species and their population is currently declining. Results of the study linked the presence of the pollutant Polychlorinated-biphenyls (PCBs) in the ocean to this decline. Students will use the procedures outlined by this research to conduct their own population study on their local community. They will go to the cemetery to collect the mortality (death …

Zoology Teams In Action: Using Animals To Initiate Scientific Inquiry, Kat Hudson

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The benefits of using animals in the science classroom have been discussed, debated and written about for some time. Using animals as initiators of inquiry-based science and managing the welfare of the animals by creating student-run “Zoology Teams” is addressed in this article. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, C, and F, and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.

The Teacher's Crucial Role In Helping Students Learn Through Inquiry, Michael P. Clough

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Learning and effective teaching are both highly complex acts. Leinhardt and Greeno (1986, p. 75) write that "teaching occurs in a relatively ill-structured, dynamic environment". Classroom conditions change in unpredictable ways, and information arises during the act of teaching that by necessity must inform practice as it occurs. While this is true of all teaching, it is all the more so when effectively teaching science through inquiry. This, in part, may explain the all too common practices of lecturing, textbook assignments, worksheets, and cookbook activities in science teaching. Each of these approaches severely constrains students' input into a lesson and …

Winging It: Exploring Form And Function Using Chicken Wings, Kyle Girup, Mike Klein

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This article presents a modification of a “cookbook” laboratory activity addressing the structure and function of a chicken wing. While the original activity was interesting, it did most all the thinking for students. The problem solving, creativity, and cooperative learning demanded in the modified activity requires students to think deeply about what they are doing and the relationship between structure and function. In doing so, students develop a better understanding of this important concept and the nature of scientific work. This activity promotes National Science Education Content Standards A and C and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, …

Learning Science As And Through Inquiry, Michael P. Clough

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Inquiry science teaching has been at the heart of science education reform efforts for as long as most of us can remember. Clearly, the longstanding efforts to move science education in this direction are not a passing education fad. However, confusion often exists regarding what inquiry science teaching means and what it looks like in the complex world of classroom teaching. Inquiry science teaching may refer to teaching science as inquiry (helping students understand how scientific knowledge is developed) or teaching science through inquiry (having students take part in inquiry activities to help them come to more deeply understand science …

Every Learner Inquires: A State Science Education Initiative, W. Tony Heiting

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Learning, by its very nature, is an active mental process whereby learners work to make sense of experience in light of what they already know. Learning through inquiry encourages extensive mental engagement and, when implemented well, promotes a deep understanding of science concepts and the nature of science. For these reasons, having students learn science through inquiry has been at the heart of science education reform documents. However, teaching science through inquiry requires particular teaching skills that depart from time-honored practices. This article describes a new state science education initiative in Iowa titled “Every Learner Inquires” (ELI) that will begin …

Rethinking The Rollercoaster: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach To Promoting Science Inquiry, Timothy Nordin

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

References to amusement park rides are often made when teaching students about motion and other physics concepts. The activity presented here goes further and engages students in using physics concepts, and extending this understanding to new concepts, including building roller coaster models that actually work. The value of the activity presented is its ability to promote several important goals for science learning, as well as describing the teachers' crucial role. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, E, F, and G and Iowa Teaching Standards 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Title Page - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Revving It Up! Helping Students Investigate The Forces That Power A Motor, Roy D. Unruh, Larry Escalada

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The Electric Motors learning cycle demonstrates how magnetic fields and electric currents interact to produce a force on a moving charge. In the exploratory activity students manipulate a magnetic field to produce motion in a cone and construct an electric motor by winding an armature and field coils. In the concept development activity, students construct a simple motor with a single coil and ceramic magnets. They feel the force on a current carrying coil in a magnetic field that leads to the right-hand rule. They also analyze the operation of a motor used to power a toy car. The application …

Title Page - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Welcome To The Electronic Iowa Science Teachers Journal, Michael P. Clough

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Welcome to the electronic Iowa Science Teachers Journal (IST J)! Prior to 1994, members of the Iowa Science Teachers Section received a hard copy Iowa Science Teacher Journal as part of their membership. When running for the office of ISTS President, I wrote that my primary objective would be to revive IST J for members of ISTS. Towards that end, Jeff Weld and I put forth a proposal for creating an electronic IST J to the Iowa Academy of Science Board and they enthusiastically supported the proposal. We are pleased to serve ISTS and its members, and appreciate the support …

Days Of Our Spineless Lives: A Never Ending Saga, Lori Ihrig

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This activity is an interdisciplinary method for engaging students in biological investigations through working with living aquatic invertebrates. The learning cycle begins with students conducting fieldwork to collect aquatic invertebrates. Students then think and propose ideas to create an observation record that they can use to study their organisms in the classroom. Finally, through the use of well-phrased questions along with wait-time, positive nonverbal responses, and non-judgmental responses, the teacher is an ally working with students in inquiry to generate the requirements of a final project. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards, A, C, and F, and Iowa …

Lights, Camera, Inquiry!: Setting The Stage For A Year Of Inquiry, Brandon Schrauth

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This article describes my own inquiry. As I work to prepare and start a new school year. I show how I consider the classroom environment to have a strong connection to the success of inquiry in the science classroom. I describe how I use the process of inquiry as a starting point and how I use specific actions to create an environment that pushes students to move beyond restating known information. Finally, I address the need for a teacher's own change and the importance for our own risk-taking behaviors. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A and B, …

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Learned!, Daniel Bergman

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This article discusses modifying a specific activity so that it promotes scientific inquiry, cooperative learning, accurate and explicit nature of science understanding, and appropriate assessment. It features a brief description of the original "cookbook" activity and a subsequent adaptation to create an inquiry-based lesson. The activity uses ordinary pennies to teach fundamental concepts such as density and indirect measurements. Extension activities for chemistry students could feature chemical reactions and metal activities. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, B, and G, and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and …

Introducing Students To Polar And Non-Polar Interactions Through Inquiry, Jerrid Kruse

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Almost half of all chemistry teachers do not use inquiry in their classroom. Teachers cite classroom management, safety, and workload as reasons for not implementing inquiry techniques in their classroom (Deters, 2004). These teachers may resist laboratory-based inquiry finding it too daunting for themselves and their students. However, both students and teachers can progressively move to laboratory-based inquiry by first starting with less demanding science inquiry. This article describes an inquiry atmosphere created in a discussion classroom setting where students only minimally interact with materials. Students investigate macroscopic properties of water and hexane at their desks and the teacher performs …

Cover - Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Computers In The Science Classroom, Piroz Mohseni

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Computers have become an integral part of the education system, and computer literacy is an important asset for any college student. Many students find that their exposure to computers at the high school level was not satisfactory. Thus they hesitate to enroll in computer enhanced mathematics or science courses at the college level. This paper discusses some of the avenues for secondary science instructors to incorporate computers into their current curriculum. It also examines computer use to enhance students' understanding of science and mathematical concepts.

Understanding Vs. Knowing, John R. Stiles

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

How well do students understand concepts in science? Are teachers evaluating what students actually comprehend or merely how well they can recite information? How valuable are tests? What do they actually measure? How appropriate are the lessons to the children's developmental levels?

These and similar questions should be an important part of every teacher's evaluation procedure. We need to stop and ask ourselves such questions as: Why do I want my students to know this? Will knowing this make a difference in their lives? Is it important? Do the students really understand this? How can I be sure? From here, …

Measurement In Elementary Science, Barbara A. Bonnett

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Ten year olds have great difficulty drawing the human face and form in proportion. To see if that skill could be enhanced, our fifth grade class set out to explore human proportion and measurements using metric rulers, meter sticks, graph paper and helpful partners.

An Analysis Of Physical Science Textbooks For Scientific Literacy, Hussein A. Baarah, Trudi L. Volk

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Developing the scientifically literate individual is considered to be an important objective of science education in the United States (Blough and Schwartz 1990, Maarschalk 1988, Murane and Raizen 1988, National Science Teachers Association 1971, 1982; and Simpson and Anderson 1981). The scientifically literate person understands how science, technology and society influence one another, and is able to use this knowledge in everyday decision making (AAAS 1989, Yager and Harms 1981).

Science Calendar

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial Office & Staff; Officers, Iowa Academy Of Science; Executive Board & Regional Directors, Iowa Science Teachers Section

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.