Papers by Stephen Rowcliffe
School Science Review, 2024
The concepts of helical diffraction and X-ray
crystallography can be difficult for students to
gr... more The concepts of helical diffraction and X-ray
crystallography can be difficult for students to
grasp, and most schools lack the technology
to allow students to experience it directly. This
demonstration helps students to understand
more clearly how the X-ray diffraction technique
allowed for the discovery of the helical structure
of DNA, by using a lightbulb filament and blue
laser pointer to model the DNA molecule and X-ray
beam respectively. The demonstration results in a
cross-shaped diffraction pattern, which is similar to
that produced by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond
Gosling in 1952, in their famous āPhoto 51ā (Figure 1).
This can subsequently be linked conceptually to the
helical shape of the lightbulb filament as observed
under a light microscope.
The School science review, 2017
A simple string model to demonstrate the importance of DNA gyrase in alleviating the strain due t... more A simple string model to demonstrate the importance of DNA gyrase in alleviating the strain due to supercoiling of DNA during replication in prokaryote chromosomes and using pop beads to simulate the Sanger method of DNA sequencing
Wine Studies, Mar 26, 2018
To investigate claims that products containing weak stationary magnets can reduce the astringency... more To investigate claims that products containing weak stationary magnets can reduce the astringency of tannic red wine, a double-blind randomized trial was carried out, in which 96 paired tastings were conducted of magnetized and non-magnetized samples of a young Nebbiolo. The data showed no association between reported differences in astringency and actual difference in the magnetic treatments given to the wine (Ļ 2 =0.135, degrees of freedom=1, P=0.71). This study confirms an earlier work that magnets have no observable effect on red wine.
School Science Review, 2013
Many secondary science teachers face difficulties inspiring their classes. The use of stories can... more Many secondary science teachers face difficulties inspiring their classes. The use of stories can enliven teaching and improve pupils' learning. This article reviews research in this area and offers guidelines and advice as to how teachers can use storytelling to optimum advantage in science.
The School science review
This data collection exercise makes use of historical satellite images of the RondƓnia region of ... more This data collection exercise makes use of historical satellite images of the RondƓnia region of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest that show the rate of loss of forest cover that has taken place over the last five decades. These images are available from Google Earth.
The School science review
The activity discussed in this Science note has been found useful in enriching and supporting the... more The activity discussed in this Science note has been found useful in enriching and supporting the teaching and learning of the following points from the current International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) biology syllabus: 8.2.3 Explain the light-dependent reactions, including the photoactivation of photosystems I and II. 8.2.7 Explain the relationship between the action spectrum and the absorption spectrum of photosynthetic pigments in green plants.
Many secondary science teachers fac e difficulties inspiring their classes. The use of stories ca... more Many secondary science teachers fac e difficulties inspiring their classes. The use of stories can enliven teaching and improve pupils' learning. This article reviews research in thi s area and offers guidelines and advice as to ho w teachers can use storytelling to optimu m advantage in science.
School science review, 2003
RƩsumƩ/Abstract There has been much debate as to whether the time, effort and money spent providi... more RƩsumƩ/Abstract There has been much debate as to whether the time, effort and money spent providing science teachers with the skills and equipment necessary to use PowerPoint in lessons is an effective use of resources in terms of the learning benefits experienced by ...
Ability grouping is a contentious issue in high school science education, and one that divides te... more Ability grouping is a contentious issue in high school science education, and one that divides teachers, parents, and policymakers alike. However, it may be that current grouping systems are founded on ideas that are failing to provide for the best interests of students at any ability level. This article aims to review current practice and its effects on student and teacher outcomes, and suggest a new direction for student grouping polices based on the ideal of āscience for allā through curriculum reform and choice-based modular course systems. The article is based largely on the British education system.
School Science Review, 2022
Inspirational teaching is a fairly well-researched field, and the benefits that it brings to stud... more Inspirational teaching is a fairly well-researched field, and the benefits that it brings to student learning are manifold. Although the characteristics of inspirational teaching practice have been studied, there is no clear, universally recognised framework for understanding them. This article presents the results of a literature review, in conjunction with some primary research into the benefits and characteristics of inspirational teaching, and includes a hierarchical model developed to summarise and conceptualise its main features.
The activity discussed in this Science note has been found useful in enriching and supporting the... more The activity discussed in this Science note has been found useful in enriching and supporting the teaching and learning of the following points from the current International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) biology syllabus:
This regular section of SER describes thinking, cooperative learning, and other teaching techniques.
A bullet falling from the sky can readily kill. At the end of the 1991 Gulf War, for example, 20 ... more A bullet falling from the sky can readily kill. At the end of the 1991 Gulf War, for example, 20 Kuwaitis were killed after being struck by falling bullets that had been fired in celebration.
Many secondary science teachers face difficulties inspiring their classes. The use of stories can... more Many secondary science teachers face difficulties inspiring their classes. The use of stories can enliven teaching and improve pupils' learning. This article reviews research in this area and offers guidelines and advice as to how teachers can use storytelling to optimum advantage in science.
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Papers by Stephen Rowcliffe
crystallography can be difficult for students to
grasp, and most schools lack the technology
to allow students to experience it directly. This
demonstration helps students to understand
more clearly how the X-ray diffraction technique
allowed for the discovery of the helical structure
of DNA, by using a lightbulb filament and blue
laser pointer to model the DNA molecule and X-ray
beam respectively. The demonstration results in a
cross-shaped diffraction pattern, which is similar to
that produced by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond
Gosling in 1952, in their famous āPhoto 51ā (Figure 1).
This can subsequently be linked conceptually to the
helical shape of the lightbulb filament as observed
under a light microscope.
crystallography can be difficult for students to
grasp, and most schools lack the technology
to allow students to experience it directly. This
demonstration helps students to understand
more clearly how the X-ray diffraction technique
allowed for the discovery of the helical structure
of DNA, by using a lightbulb filament and blue
laser pointer to model the DNA molecule and X-ray
beam respectively. The demonstration results in a
cross-shaped diffraction pattern, which is similar to
that produced by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond
Gosling in 1952, in their famous āPhoto 51ā (Figure 1).
This can subsequently be linked conceptually to the
helical shape of the lightbulb filament as observed
under a light microscope.