Thirty years ago, when personal computers were first becoming available in homes and schools, a large group of primary school-age children were asked to share their attitudes about computers, their conceptions regarding how computers function, and their beliefs concerning computers' agency. The researchers wanted to gather baseline data regarding…

"Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and Key Stage 1" reviews the best available evidence to offer five recommendations for developing the maths skills of 3-7-year olds. Recommendations include integrating maths into different activities throughout the day -- for example, at registration and snack time -- to familiarise children…

Although much research has focussed on how various educational policy initiatives have attempted to improve problems of social exclusion, little research has systematically examined, categorised and synthesised the types of leadership in schools that might assist improving social inclusion. Given the importance of school leadership in New Labour…

Briefly reports findings of research indicating that primary school children are adept at recognizing many historical stereotypes and placing them in an accurate sequence. Illustrates how time charts can be used to foster children's historical understanding. (RH)

Elementary students role-playing people celebrating various holiday seasons of different cultures can learn social science concepts. (JR)

Presents findings of an analysis of Italian seventh grade students' understanding of capitalism and socialism. Reports that knowledge of the topics was rather poor. Concludes that students who had studied the topics more thoroughly had somewhat, but not substantially, greater understanding of capitalism and socialism. Calls for more research. (SG)

This paper describes student difficulties in first-year calculus classes and suggests some instructional strategies to address these difficulties. Participants in this study were 200 low socio-economic background freshmen majoring in business in Brazil. Results show that the main difficulties are related to lack of understanding of algebraic…

Examines the mathematical concepts that cause the widest discrepancy between the sexes. Found these concepts to be concerned with scale or ratio, spatial problems, space-time relationships or probability questions. Contends that these findings have implications for those making decisions affecting the promotion of the teaching of mathematics to…

The misconceptions related to the concepts of force and acceleration among college students are explored. Misconceptions are identified and their occurrence among a large percentage of students are observed. Provided are some implications for physics teaching and an eight-item test. (Author/YP)

Investigates the concepts of ratio and proportion constructed by grade 9 students by investigating their proportional reasoning schemes and procedures on three types of tasks: missing value, numerical comparison, and qualitative reasoning. Indicates that students frequently used additive reasoning--that is, a comparison of two numbers by…

Nonformal education is explored in the context of development in order to provide researchers with fundamental tools for selecting nonformal educational activities that can provide a framework for analysis. Criteria that can be used to determine nonformal educational activities are identified; development as the setting of nonformal education is…

Presents an instructional strategy based on the thesis that science concept learning involves cognitive accommodation of an initially held framework. The three stages of the strategy--exposing alternative frameworks, creating conceptual conflict, and encouraging cognitive accommodation--are illustrated in two lessons on the particle model of…

Identifies and describes the problems students have with the concept of neutralization. Analysis of over 7,500 students' answers to test questions over neutralization showed that many students understand the concept in its original meaning. Students assumed that in any neutralization reaction a neutral solution is formed, even if a weak acid or…

Discusses some of the problems encountered in teaching electronics in British secondary schools with regard to understanding certain concepts. Describes some ways of teaching the concept of potential in a secondary electronics course. (TW)

This article presents an approach to teaching "motion and inertia." The teaching strategy consists of four phases: (1) orientation; (2) eliciting children's ideas; (3) restructuring of ideas; and (4) improving and applying. Samples of students' ideas on the concept of mechanics are provided. Lists 11 references. (YP)