Articles written by Harvey Craft

Few issues are as important to teachers as motivating students. Lots of techniques are tried, but often fail. Knowing students is the key to motivation.

Feb 8, 2012 - Harvey Craft

The Ogallala Aquifer is one of the world's largest sources of subterranean water. It may face danger of pollution from the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

Feb 1, 2012 - Harvey Craft

Many teachers and students believe that effort should be considered when grading. However, effort is not well-defined or consistently applied.

Jan 29, 2012 - Harvey Craft

President Obama has approved natural gas as a path to energy independence. The U.S. is thought to have a 100 year supply of natural gas. What happens next?

Jan 24, 2012 - Harvey Craft

The Keystone XL pipeline has already become a hot topic. President Obama has nixed the project for now. Facts are hard to find in the haystack of details.

Jan 21, 2012 - Harvey Craft

Most people associate Colorado with natural beauty and snow-skiing. The search for energy in the Niobrara shale formation is changing the Colorado picture.

Jan 12, 2012 - Harvey Craft

The Standard Model of particle physics has a tiny missing link called the Higgs boson. Its discovery would provide the explanation for the existence of mass

Jan 11, 2012 - Harvey Craft

Virtually all teachers are observed, but watching teachers teach is not enough. Principals should know how teachers are assessing and grading students.

Jan 10, 2012 - Harvey Craft

Rewards have become a major component of the classroom and schools generally. Are rewards the best way to improve behavior and grades?

Dec 15, 2011 - Harvey Craft

One of the most important decisions a teacher can make is how to determine a student's grade. Often grading systems are complex and unfair.

Dec 13, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Few teachers will disagree that time is their most valuable necessity. While many schools are models of efficiency, some let time slip away.

Dec 11, 2011 - Harvey Craft

While educational researchers strive to isolate best practices to enhance student learning what teachers simply believe is often more important.

Dec 8, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Far from the solar system Kepler is finding a variety of planets and satellites. Launched March 6, 2009, success has come quickly to the mission.

Dec 5, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Mozambique has not been a source of major energy discovery. That may be about to change if estimates of a new oil discovery are accurate.

Nov 29, 2011 - Harvey Craft

After decades of assigning homework, educators still don't know if it improves learning. Homework is being reexamined and policies are changing.

Nov 17, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Few subjects have captured the imagination of people more than the possibility of alien life. Some scientists say city lights are the key to finding aliens.

Nov 8, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Scientists have known for years that the world's ice is melting. Now a 340 square mile chunk of Antarctic ice adds to fears about rising sea levels.

Nov 5, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Much has been reported recently on the job boom in Williston, North Dakota. The jobs are widely varied and spread across the Bakken region.

Nov 4, 2011 - Harvey Craft

The wind power industry has seen significant growth over the past decade. The industry promises jobs wherever wind projects spring up. Search the web.

Nov 2, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Williston, North Dakota has become "Boom Town, USA," as a result of increased oil and natural gas production. It's a small town now, but so was Orlando, FL.

Nov 1, 2011 - Harvey Craft

U.S. unemployment hovers around 9.1 %. The Bakken is yielding more oil and gas due to fracking. Williston and other towns have lots of jobs of all kinds.

Oct 31, 2011 - Harvey Craft

There are good reasons why people plant seeds in warm weather. This easy science project investigates the effect of temperature on seed germination.

Oct 28, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Heat energy offers numerous opportunities for experimentation. This one demonstrates how relative humidity changes during the day.

Oct 26, 2011 - Harvey Craft

A science project is best if it demonstrates some basic principle and produces data. Heat energy offers numerous opportunities for experimentation.

Oct 25, 2011 - Harvey Craft

The media discusses energy often. Energy's definition is often not well understood. A basic knowledge of energy is crucial in today's world.

Oct 23, 2011 - Harvey Craft

As the U.S. dependence on foreign oil increases, rumors spread that massive, secret oil deposits exist. Good information is not easily found in the numbers.

Oct 21, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Ethanol was once touted as the fuel of the future for automobiles. It's renewable and easy to produce, but ethanol's promise has limitations.

Oct 19, 2011 - Harvey Craft

For many students middle school science is boring and difficult. Teachers need to continue to use good models, especially with abstractions like atoms.

Oct 13, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Before the controversy of hydraulic fracking there was a way to boost oil production. Dangerous, but still done, it is known as "shooting the well.

Oct 11, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Dry eye syndrome is common. It results from decreased tear production or poor tear quality. An eye doctor has several options for treatment.

Oct 10, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Students learn better when they enjoy an activity. This lesson plan is a fun way to introduce the scientific method. It is adaptable to grades 4 and higher.

Oct 7, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Much is said and written recently about extending the time students spend in the classroom. It sounds like a good idea. Will it lead to better education?

Sep 29, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Science begins with inquiry. Inquiry begins with curiosity. Process skills are an essential part of the scientific process of investigation.

Sep 29, 2011 - Harvey Craft

A family bicycling dream is located in southwestern Virginia from Abingdon and Whitetop Mountain. Autumn is the favorite time, but summer is pleasant too.

Sep 28, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Science teachers have a big advantage in teaching - science is the closest thing to magic of any subject. Also, there are lots of things to demonstrate.

Sep 26, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Homework is one of the most contentious issues in public education. There are ways to improve homework and student participation.

Sep 24, 2011 - Harvey Craft

A test is more than an assessment of learning. Tests should assess and teach. Teacher-made tests should be well-conceived, carefully written, and evaluated.

Sep 22, 2011 - Harvey Craft

In 1890 an asteroid was discovered in the main asteroid belt. It was named Baptistina. Evidence indicated a relative killed the dinosaurs.

Sep 21, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Arguably, no president has received more scrutiny than Abraham Lincoln. Doris Kearns Goodwin offers a new and scholarly view of Lincoln.

Sep 18, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Since oil was first obtained by drilling, much of it has been impossible to extract. Fracking increases the amount of oil and natural gas recovered.

Sep 14, 2011 - Harvey Craft

All teachers want students to pay attention and be active learners. To maximize participation teachers must ask positive and supportive questions.

Aug 24, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Some people have headaches frequently and many - over 25 million Americans - suffer from a disabling condition called migraine. Water may help.

Aug 21, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Believing that giving someone a reward for doing the right thing is easy and seems logical. There are unexpected problems in the practice. Beware!

Aug 9, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Many teachers believe that they must grade all student work, but it isn't so. Try a new technique for grading and student/parent feedback. Teach better.

Aug 7, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Teachers want students to participate in class activities. Student engagement improves learning while making classroom management easier.

Aug 3, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Asteroids have been making news as threats to Earth. Scientists have discovered 2010 TK7. It is located ahead of the Earth, sharing its orbit.

Jul 30, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Teachers often give homework because it is usually considered to be an essential part of learning. Teachers need to reexamine at the practice.

Jul 29, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Teachers who want to motivate students should consider making a classroom that inspires learning. Teachers can be creative and involve students as well.

Jul 23, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Apophis and YU55 will pass close to Earth. A yet unseen asteroid or comet will strike Earth. Near-misses are common. Scientists watch and wait.

Jul 15, 2011 - Harvey Craft

Information about what to do to help students learn is common.Teachers must know what not to do, as well. Negative attitudes and practices are widespread.

Jul 14, 2011 - Harvey Craft