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Editorial Board & Iowa Academy Of Science Officers And Directors

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Relation Of Riparian Buffer Strips To In-Stream Habitat, Macroinvertebrates And Fish In A Small Iowa Stream, Jeremy P. Duehr, Michael J. Siepker, Clay L. Pierce, Thomas M. Isenhart

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Macroinvertebrate and fish habitat is often degraded as a result of agriculture. Riparian buffer strips are commonly used to counteract the negative effects of agriculture in headwater streams. We assessed the relation of multi-aged riparian buffer strips to in-stream habitat, macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in an Iowa stream. In-stream habitat, macroinvertebrates, and fish were sampled from two buffered sites and two unbuffered sites, with the greatest substrate, water depth, and velocity heterogeneity occurring in buffered sites. The highest macroinvertebrate richness (11) as well as fish species richness (14), diversity (1.99) and IBI score (37) were found in the site buffered …

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Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Iowa Academy Of Science 118th Annual Meeting [2006]: Advance Program, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2006 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science.

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 …

Biotechnology Education In The State Of Iowa: A Survey Of Teachers And Factors Affecting Inclusion, Jason Allen Lang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research studied biology, agricultural education, and family and consumer science teachers in Iowa regarding the topic of biotechnology in their classrooms. The survey study involved collecting demographic information about respondents, which could then be used to characterize those who teach biotechnology and those who do not. The survey also asked about perceived barriers to teaching biotechnology. As the first large scale sampling of Iowa teachers (1477), the survey attempted to provide a picture of biotechnology education in the state. Demographic data showed an aging teaching population, a teaching load of some teachers, especially those in FCS and Ag Ed, …

Effect Of A Biomes Genetics Unit On Student Achievement In High School Biology, Melissa C. James

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research has found the learning cycle to be an effective science instructional tool for implementing hands-on activities and leading interactive discussion. In 2000 a curriculum entitled Biology Instructional Opportunities for Motivating Every Student (BIOMES), was written by teachers from Iowa and Wisconsin and edited by Dr. Jody Stone and Dr. Lyn Countryman of the University of Northern Iowa. BIO MES was designed using a three stage learning cycle format to allow students to be true science investigators and create a more student-centered environment to stimulate the development of reasoning skills. The purpose of this study was to test the BIO …

Student Attendance And Its Relationship To Student Achievement In An Earth Science Class, Gregory Lee Schafer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research studied the relationship between the attendance patterns of ninth grade high school students and achievement, in a required ninth grade Earth Science course as defined by course grades, in a medium sized Midwestern school district. Data was collected from a school district computerized system spanning a five year period from August of 2000 to June of 2005 and included 3667 data sets. The data consisted of course grades as indicated by A, B, C, D, and F and the number of days absent for each semester. The research question framing the study was, "Is there a statistically significant …

Exploring The Relationship Between Mathematics Content Knowledge And Pedagogical Content Knowledge Among Pre-Service Teachers, Hsueh-I Martin Lo

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study replicates and extends a previous study (Nathan & Petrosino, 2003) that explored the relationship between the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of pre-service mathematics teachers.

In that study, Nathan and Petrosino (2003) examined and reported evidence supporting the counterintuitive hypothesis that, in some situations, having a high degree of content knowledge may be associated with the "expert blind spot" (symbol-precedence) in pedagogical content knowledge. Pre-service teachers with various levels of expertise in mathematics subject matter were given a series of mathematics problems and asked to rank order their difficulty. Nathan and Petrosino (2003) reported that, on the …

Vocabulary Development Through Math Journaling Using Technology Resources In An Elementary Math Classroom, Debbie Hansel

Graduate Research Papers

An action research study was conducted in a second grade classroom in a nonpublic elementary school with student seven-to-eight years of age. The purpose of the research was to determine if the use of computer-based content journaling leads to a better understanding of the mathematical vocabulary being focused on and to establish if the use of computer-based reflective journal entries has a positive impact on the students' attitude toward mathematics.

The comparison of scores from the pre-assessment and post-assessment of vocabulary knowledge demonstrated an increase in accuracy. Journaling helped students arrive at the generalization relating the size of what is …

The Study Of Computational Fluency, Cassandra Hart

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers, educators and researchers are still attempting to reach consensus on the kinds and amounts of computational fluency that are relevant for today's classroom. But one thing is certain, computational fluency is one of the most vital components of developing mathematical understanding. It is absolutely necessary that students have knowledge of basic number relationships and the ability to choose from a number of appropriate strategies. The question to be answered in this study is how can Computational Fluency strategies enhance student achievement in math and improve the current climate for learning? This study evaluated the implementation of the Computational Fluency …

Best Practices In Middle Level Mathematics Teaching And Learning, Wendy Sue Korte

Graduate Research Papers

The added pressure on students and teachers to do well in mathematics has placed a new emphasis on how best to teach math. This paper discusses the standards developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and how those standards can be implemented into classrooms in order to help students to increase their mathematical power. Although teaching to the standards would be a drastic change for many teachers with the proper professional development, standards-based math classes could be a reality that will help our students' mathematical understanding.

Ists E-Newsletter, November 30, 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

ISTS Newsletter

In this issue:

--Notes from Your President

--VIP Message IAS Executive Director

--ISTS News New Section Chairs Fall Conference News

--Announcements

--Your ISTS Leadership Team

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V01n3, Autumn 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--A Memorial to Charles Drewes

--Buena Vista University

--ISTS Fall Conference

--Iowa Science Teacher’s Section Fall Conference

--Fall Conference Registration

--Return of the Iowa Science Teachers Journal

--IAS Honors New Fellows

Ists E-Newsletter, September 30, 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

ISTS Newsletter

In this issue:

--Notes from Your President

--Notes From Other VIPs President Elect IAS Executive Director State Science Consultant

--ISTS Fall Conference Past President

--Announcements

--Your ISTS Leadership Team

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V01n2, Summer 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--EPA Award for Program Director

--Reflections of the Iowa Teacher of the Year

--Opportunities for Teachers

--The Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science

--Inventing Flight: A Workshop for Science Teachers

--IAS Honors New Fellows

--2005 ISTS Fall Conference Update

Ists E-Newsletter, May 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

ISTS Newsletter

In this issue:

--A Message from Your President

--ISTS Fall Conference News, Message From Our Past President

--ISTS Members in the News

--Science Education News from the Department of Education

--Announcements

--Your ISTS Leadership Team

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V01n1, Spring 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--New Electronic Iowa Science Teacher Journal

--Bringing the Lost Landscape into Iowa Classrooms

--The Iowa Junior Academy of Science at the 2005 AAAS Annual Meeting

--Iowa Science Foundation Grants

--Iowa Academy of Science Election 2005

--New Web Site Software

--IAS at the State Capitol

Ists E-Newsletter, February 2005, Iowa Academy Of Science

ISTS Newsletter

In this issue:

--Notes from Your President

--ISTS April Administrative Meeting

--Congratulations to our members

--Announcements

--Your ISTS Leadership Team

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 …

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Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Cover - Table Of Contents

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

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 …

Front Matter

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

The Moths Of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge: A Preliminary Assessment, Michelle N. Lewis, Renae M. Steichen, Keith S. Summerville

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

North American prairie systems are believed to have supported substantial insect biodiversity. Loss of prairie and oak savanna habitats, however, has been severe in many Midwestern states, including Iowa. An unanswered question facing land managers interested in restoring tallgrass prairies to the Iowan landscape is the degree to which restored habitats contain native insect species that are dependent upon prairie habitat. This study reports data from a preliminary survey of the moths of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,292-ha prairie and oak savanna restoration site in central Iowa. We identified and cataloged a total of 426 species of moths …

Iowa's Sand Prairie State Preserves: Anomalous Grain-Size Distributions And Optically Stimulated Luminescence (Osl) Dates, Steven H. Emerman, Brian R. Depew, Lisa K. Anderson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Grain-size distributions and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates were obtained for the sand from Iowa's five sand prairie state preserves, which are Behren's Ponds and Woodland, Cedar Hills Sand Prairie, Kish-Ke-Kosh Prairie, Marietta Sand Prairie and Rock Island. OSL dates ranged from the late Pleistocene (15,560 years B.P.) to the very late Holocene (as recent as 590 years B.P.), indicating that the late Pleistocene and Holocene Epochs in Iowa have seen multiple episodes of aridity, which is consistent with results from the Nebraska Sand Hills and eolian sand stringers in southeastern Minnesota. The grain-size distributions were anomalous in that, compared …

Letter To The Editor - Conservation Of Freshwater Mussels In Iowa, K. Elizabeth Poole

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Freshwater mussels occur in a variety of aquatic ecosystems worldwide but nowhere is mussel species richness as high as is reported in North America. With nearly 300 recorded species in the U.S., mussels are key components of freshwater biodiversity playing a vital role in benthic communities. Ecologically important in biological processing and nutrient cycling, mussels are also an important food item for a variety of mammals including mink, otter, and raccoon. In addition to ecological importance, freshwater mussels have been economically important in the production of cultured pearls.

Hydrogeology Of Hanging Bog State Preserve: The Role Of Hillside Seeps In Draining The Iowan Surface, William L. Niemann

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Along the margin of the Cedar River Valley, groundwater discharges from eroded and weathered glacial materials of the Iowan Surface to modern alluvial deposits of the valley floor. Hanging Bog State Preserve, located along this topographic, geologic, and hydrologic boundary, represents one such groundwater discharge location, in the form of a perennial hillside seep. Based on detailed monitoring of surface water and groundwater levels within the preserve for a one-year period, it is shown that a significant quantity of groundwater, collected from a disproportionately large recharge area, is funneled to the valley wall at this site and subsequently carried to …

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Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.