PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN) April 1994, No. 2 An electronic newsletter of the AIP Educati

PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN)
April 1994, No. 2

An electronic newsletter of the AIP Education Division

LABNET CONNECTS SCIENCE TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION
TERC's LabNet computer network allows science teachers who are
hundreds of miles apart to exchange teaching tips, share science
activities, transfer computer files, access electronic mail
services, and search materials and project databases.  The network
is accessible to any pre-college teacher equipped with a computer,
a 2400-baud modem, and local telephone service.
(For information and an application, contact:  TERC LabNet Project,
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA  02140; fax:  617-349-3535)

REPORTS CONTAIN "TRANSFORMING IDEAS" FOR SCIENCE, MATH EDUCATION
The U.S. Department of Education has released two new reports that
offer suggestions to schools and communities on how to make
fundamental improvements in mathematics and science education.
"Transforming Ideas for Teaching and Learning Mathematics" and
"Transforming Ideas for Teaching and Learning Science" each offer
10 ideas for enhancing math and science instruction that challenge
conventional wisdom about the very nature of the disciplines, and
about teaching and learning as well.
(For a copy, contact:  Department of Education, Office of
Educational Research and Improvement, Education Information Branch,
555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC  20208-5641)

GOPHER SERVICES PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET
Explore the following three Gopher sites for information and
training materials on the Internet: 
is a collection of Internet training materials and network in-
formation;  is a directory of network
trainers and consultants (look under the Internet Business
Journal);  offers information, registration,
and directory services for the Internet community.  It is provided
by InterNIC Information Services as a service of the National
Science Foundation.

STUDENT SCIENCE CONCEPTIONS ARE FOCUS OF PRIVATE UNIVERSE PROGRAM
The Private Universe Program, created by the Harvard-Smithsonian
Center for Astrophysics, allows educators to explore students'
conceptions about the natural world.  Often these conceptions
differ from accepted scientific view, blocking learning and under-
standing.  The aim of the Private Universe Program is to produce a
series of television programs that help K-12 teachers, school
administrators, and parents recognize and displace misconceptions
about scientific phenomena.  The six half-hour programs, one each
on biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, math,
and physics, will be created through 18 hours of live, interactive
video-conferences with teachers across the country.  The resulting
programs will be aired on PBS and other educational channels.
(For more information and an application, contact:  The Private
Universe Project, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, MS-
82, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA  02138; 617-495-7000)

NATIONAL ASTRONOMY EDUCATION PROJECTS TO BE CATALOGED
The staff of Project ASTRO at the Astronomical Society of the
Pacific (ASP) is compiling a catalog of national astronomy
education projects for wide distribution.  Projects can be for any
level:  K-12, college, independent learning, or science museums,
and can include programs for teachers, students, or the public. 
Anyone submitting information will automatically receive a copy of
the catalog in the fall of 1994.
(For more information and a survey form, contact:  Survey, Project
ASTRO, ASP, 390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA  94112; telephone:
415-337-1100 (Robin Russell); fax:  415-337-5205; e-mail:
FRAKNOI@ASPEN.FHDA.EDU (Andrew Fraknoi))

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American Institute of Physics
Education Division
Contact:  Mr. Tracy Schwab 
301-209-3007, tschwab@aip.org
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