The American Chemical Society manual, Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities is a useful and sensitive source of advice and information for chemistry instructors on how to foster full participation of students with disabilities in the laboratory or classroom. It addresses such issues as lecture and discussion techniques, special classroom arrangements, and testing and evaluation methods, and provides information and resources for implementation. Single or multiple copies of the manual are free of charge. Mail your requests to: Committee on Chemists with Disabilities, American Chemical Society, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (email: a_edmondson@acs.org).

K-12 Science Education Network

The American Chemical Society has established a K-12 Science Education Network for its members. The primary goal is to alert members, via email, of federal activity that impacts K-12 science education. Participants are also asked to call, write, and/or meet with their senators and representatives to express support for science education since constituent support is vital for continued progress on these issues.

If you have email access and are interested in joining the network so you can stay informed and be an advocate for quality K-12 science education, contact the ACS Department of Government Relations & Science Policy: 202/872-6206 (Fax) or c_head@acs.org (email). Include your name, email address, mailing address, ACS Local Section name, phone number, and Fax number.

Teaching Chemistry Seminar, via Satellite

The topic of the ACS satellite TV seminar series to be presented in November is Including Organic Chemistry in the Introductory Course. It is suitable for high school, university, and college teachers and is to be presented on November 4, 1996 from 6 to 8 p.m. EST.

The seminar will enable participants to learn about: trends to incorporate organic chemistry into introductory courses; demonstrations and laboratory activities; new and useful tools and techniques for teaching chemistry. Four master teachers who have participated in the development of new curricula at the secondary and college level will share their experiences. They will explain and demonstrate how inclusion of theory, concepts, and practical examples derived from organic chemistry have enhanced their introductory chemistry courses.

For more information about this satellite seminar or to get information on newly scheduled courses, contact: ACS Satellite TV Seminars Office at 800/227-5558, ext. 6311 or 202/872-6311; 202/872-6336 (Fax); email sat-tv@acs.org.

Workshops in Microscale Chemistry

The National Microscale Chemistry Center, located at Merrimack College, North Andover, Massachusetts, announces its workshop schedule for 1996-1997. All workshops take place at the Center.

Elementary Teachers:

October 19-20, 1996, May 15-16, 1997 and October 16-17, 1997.

High School Teachers:

November 1-3 and November 15-17, 1996; March 7-9, 1997; April 4-6, 1997; November 14-16 and November 21-23, 1997.

High School/College/University Teachers and Industry and R & D Lab Workers:

Organic: June 22-27, 1997

General: July 13-18, 1997

General/Inorganic/Industrial: July 27-August 1, 1997

Displaced DOD Personnel (no age limit) and Prospective/Current Student Teachers (age 16-24):

December 9-12, 1996 (no registration fee for this workshop)

There is no charge for attending any of these workshops. The Center will provide free lodging and meals, but no travel funds are available. Registration fees are $50 for elementary school teachers, $100 for high school teachers, and $200 for summer workshops; 50% of this fee will be refunded only upon the participant's completion of the workshops.

The elementary teacher workshops are all day Saturday and until Sunday afternoon. The high school workshops run from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. The summer workshops are Sunday evening through Friday afternoon.

Early application is encouraged. Send application with registration fee (including refundable amount) to: National Microscale Chemistry Center, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 01845; 508/837-5137 (phone); 508/837-5017 (Fax); sbrien@merrimack.edu (email).

Survey of Student Computer Use

A recent study was conducted by Quality Education Data (QED) on the number of students using modern multimedia computers in elementary and secondary schools. ("Modern multimedia"computers were defined as those that are Macintosh or have a 386 or higher processor and are capable of supporting CD-ROM drives and/or sound cards and video cards.)

The study indicates that the national average for student/multimedia computer is 35:1, a very different ratio from the widely cited student/computer ratio of 10:1. The new information reflects a census of 14,201 school districts and 84,851 public schools. The five states with the lowest student/multimedia computer ratios are:

North Dakota 15.1

South Dakota 15.4

Georgia 16.0

Colorado 16.3

Wyoming 16.5

While these ratios are more than twice as good as the national average of 35.2, it is still short of the U. S. Department of Education recommended ratio of 5:1, indicating that there remains considerable need for investment of technology in schools.

About Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may be submitted to the editorial office by U.S. mail (JCE, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Chemistry, 209 North Brooks Street, Madison, WI 53715-1116), or they may be sent by FAX (608/262-7145) or by email (jce@chem.wisc.edu). Be sure to include your complete address, your daytime phone number, and your signature. Your letter should be brief (400 words or less) and to the point; it may be edited for clarity or for space considerations.

ACS Abstract Deadlines

The Spring 1997 American Chemical Society Meeting will be held April 13-17, 1997, in San Francisco. The deadline for submitting abstracts for Division of Chemical Education symposia is November 1, 1996. Abstracts are limited to 150 words, and 5 copies are needed. For information or to submit an abstract, contact the CHED Meeting Chair: Maureen Scharberg, Department of Chemistry, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192-0101; 408/924-4966; 408/924-4945; email: scharbrg@sjsuvm1.sjsu.edu.