Gender and equity issues in computer-based science assessment

The computer and related technologies as tools for teaching, learning, and assessment are the latest wave of innovations in education. These technologies are neither gender neutral nor benign in effect. Available research suggests that widespread use of these technological tools raises significant issues for females and underrepresented populations in mathematics, science, and technology fields. Questionable assumptions frequently guide current implementation efforts with little consideration of the trade-offs inherent in these technologies and their possible cumulative effects.     

A Simple Treatment of the Superregenerative Oscillator Used to Detect Conductance Changes

This article presents a treatment of the problem of the superregenerative oscillator used to detect changes in the equivalent conductance of the coil of its resonant circuit. It is shown that if the conductance changes occur at a rate much less than the quenching frequency of the oscillator, and a rectangular quench waveform is employed, it is possible to obtain an expression relating the factors upon which the oscillator sensitivity depends without resorting to difficult mathematics. This method, using physical reasoning, should give the student a simple introduction to the subject.     

The introduction of concepts in kinetic molecular theory to children

This investigator has attempted to determine the most effective level for presenting concepts relating to the kinetic molecular theory of matter to elementary school children.