l l I((((
Recent Books
Second Digest of Investigations in the Teaching of Science. FRANCIS D. CURTIS,Ph.D., University of Michigan and University High School. P. Blakiston's Son and Co., Ltd., Philadelphia, 424 pp. 13.5 X Penna.. 1931. xx 19.5cm. $3.00.
+
This Second Digest is similar in many respects t o the First Digest of which i t is really a continuation. Volume I of "Investigations in the Teaching of Science" "was restricted to published investigations and to learning and curricular studies in the elementary and secondary fields." The second volume is expanded "not only to include other types of investigation besides learning and curricular studies, but also t o represent the college field as well as the elementary and secondary fields." The early volume abstracted 70 articles in scientific periodicals, reports, and theses bearing on investigations into different phases of teaching of the sciences, each abstract occupying about 4.5 pages. About one-third of the abstracts related directly, and many more indirectly, to chemistry. Each abstract covered (1)the problem to be investigated, (2) the method used, and (3) the findings of the author. Roughly the same treatment and the same relative proportion of space applies to the Second Digest. Since the first volume covered investigations made prior to 1925 the problem of selecting the proper papers from the "hundreds of studies covering the various phases of the teachinn.of science" ~ u b lished in the last six years was "extremely perplexing." The followinr method was adopted. The 42 members of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching were asked "to suggest published and unpublished research investigations relating t o any phase or phases of science teaching which the members eonsidered to possess sufficient value to
warrant their inclusion in a second volume." The resulting lists were combined and members were again asked to evaluate the separate papers. The outcome comprises the 93 studies of which abstracts are printed in this volume. Although the abstracts are groupcd ander (1) elementary schools, (2) secondary schools, and (3) colleges, with subdivisions under the second group covering general science, biology, physics, and chemistry, there is necessarily more or less overlapping in content. To forestall any criticism that the method of selection necessarily omitted many worthy papers, the compiler has inserted 7 supplementary lists of titles of studies "taken chiefly from the composite bibliographies from which these studies were selected." It is unfortunate that the complete composite biblioaaphy was not included so that teachers of science could have referred t o such unabstracted studies as touched individual needs. There is much food for thought, both pro and con, in the introductory pages on "The Learning Studies" and "The Curricular Studies." In this connection it is interesting to note that, by actual count, of the 93 studies abstracted 16 are master's theses and 24 are doctor's dissertation?. The studies are reported without interpretation by the compiler. Tables are included only to the extent of givinga clear understanding of the nature of the study. The preface states (a) that this book is adapted for use by those "engaged in training teachers of science" and by those "who are conducting advanced courses and seminars for the purpose of training graduate students t o do research in the teaching of science," and (b) that it should serve as a "source book and a reference book" for workers in educational research, for administrators, supervisors. and classroom teachers of science.
1PIN)
VOL.8, NO. 9
RECENT BOOKS
The abstracting seems to be well and fairly done. For teachers of secondaryschool chemistry the book should serve well as a starting point from which to carry on such independent investigations as they may wish to condud. WlLHELM SEGERBLOM
1901
Junior and Senior High Schools, Newark, N. J. Third edition. Henry Holt and Co., Inc., New York City, 1931. 776 PP. 392 figs. 12.5 X 18.5 xii cm. $1.80.
+
I n "Modern Chemistry" the aim of the author has been t o produce a hook for the high-school student that would show him the cultural and practical value of chemLaboratory Exercises in General Chemis- istry; cover the fundamental principles try. JOHNA. TIMM,Assistant Profes- upon which the science is based including sor of Chemistry, Yale University; OR- all necessary material needed to meet the ION E. SCWPP,JR., formerly laboratory syllabi of the College Entrance Board of assistant in chemistry, Yale University. the New York State Board of Regents, or The MeGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.. New of the various cities that have recently 138 pp. (half revised their courses of study; be so readYork City. 1930. ix of these pages are blank). 16 illustra- able and understandable, due t o the use tions. 14 X 21 cm. $1.25. of simple language well within the grasp The purpose of the book is to provide of pupils of high-school age, that it would laboratory exercises to accompany Timm's not he necessary for the instructor t o "An Introduction to Chemistry." [For a spend valuable time in explaining. review of this book see J. CHEM.EDUC.. The author has fulfilled his purpose and 8, 411-2 (Feh., 1931).] The authors adproduced a hook that is good in many mit encountering a difficulty in making a ways. He has made it understandable selection of experiments suitable for the by the clarity and simplicity of its explanaaccompanying textbook owing to the tions, by the inductive approach in which large amount of physics which that text students are introduced to new phases contains. They have therefore frankly of the subject t y means of references to avoided the issue and have featured chem- every-day life or to previously acquired istry experiment.. of a quantitative char- scientific knowledge and by the use of acter far the introductory experiments ~ a r - simple language, plainly labeled line drawtitularly. These are followed by a n ings and a wealth of illustrations. abridged qualitative analysis scheme as Considerable space has been devoted t" well a5 hy exercises involving electrolytic the mathematics of chemistry with explaprocedure, colloids, and a bit of organic nations which have been simplified by the chemistry. Supplementing each exercise use of type problems throughout. The is a suggestive list of questions intended to subject of writing equations has been dedrill the student in the principles con- veloped by a step by step method which cerned. There is very little in the manual simplifiesthe presentation and stresses the which is not thoroughly familiar to every points where so many students make misteacher of general chemistry. The useful- takes. ness of the book therefore lies precisely in The author has developed the theory in the field for which it was written, namely. a clear, concise, logical manner and groups as a collection of experimental material together, early in the hook, the chapters suitable for illustrating a specific text. dealing with atomic theory, atomic and 0 . F. STAFFORD molecular weights, valence, and chemical UNIVBRSITY OP ORBCON equations in a logical sequence which EVOSNB, OIROON simplifies its presentation. Modern Chemistry. CHARLES E. DULL. The book is thoroughly modern, conHead of Science Department. West Side taining many pictures and material on the School and Supervisor of Science far the latest practical applications of chemistry. PIT~IT~IP EXBTBE ACADBMY E X B T ~ R Nsw . H*MPsnla=
+
