The Tools for Scientific Thinking curricula make use of microcomputer-based laboratory materials for student development of concepts and intuition in the laboratory. There are two curriculum guides: Motion and Force and Heat and Temperature. Each guide consists of a series of guided investigations suitable for either the high school or introductory college laboratory. The materials have been extensively tested and shown to dramatically improve students' conceptual understanding. The units are accompanied by a detailed Teacher's Guide and are supplied in printed, loose-leaf format. Also included is a disk of word processing files, so you can modify the activities for your situation. The principal authors are David Sokoloff of the University of Oregon and Ronald Thornton of Tufts University.

Motion and Force
The Motion and Force laboratory guide contains five units, each requiring about three hours of laboratory work. The labs involve simple apparatus such as dynamics carts, ramps, and springs. Students use their own body motions extensively in the introductory units. A motion detector is required for all of the units and a force sensor is used in two of the units.

Heat and Temperature
The Heat and Temperature laboratory guide contains four units, each requiring about three hours: Introduction to Heat and Temperature, Energy Transfer and Temperature Changes, Changing Phase: Ice to Water and Water to Steam, and Heat Energy Transfer. Two temperature probes are required. A heat pulser is required for approximately half of the investigations. (Contact Vernier Software for details on the heat pulser.)