The debate between summative and formative assessment is creating a situation that increasingly calls to mind the famous slogan in George Orwell's (1945) "Animal Farm"--"Four legs good, two legs bad". Formative assessment is increasingly being portrayed in the literature as "good" assessment, which tutors should…

This study explores the parameter-related misconceptions of two college students enrolled in a Pascal programming course. Findings indicate that both students appeared to conceive a direct procedure-to-procedure linkage, with the connection being made by identically named formal parameters. Both students were able, by making seemingly innocuous…

Explains a research project conducted at the University of Puerto Rico among students taking biology to develop and test a constructivist learning environment and identify students' misconceptions in biology. Lists the questions on which students showed misconceptions during the pre- and post-tests. (Contains 27 references.) (YDS)

Describes a study that explored the parameter-related misconceptions of two college students in an introductory programming course. Explains how they were able to construct correctly functioning modular programs by making adjustments to formal parameter lists; discusses results within a constructivist framework; and suggests implications for…

Describes a novel method for analyzing concept maps for research and analysis purposes. Examines 56 complex concept maps generated from student interviews on the topic of chemical bonding. (Contains 32 references.) (Author/YDS)

Discusses the importance of fostering critical thinking in chemistry. Presents strategies to improve critical thinking that were used in general chemistry for science and engineering majors, a similar course for less-prepared science and engineering majors, and a course for nonscience students. (JRH)

Presents a theoretical model for developing environmental conceptions that incorporate environmental knowledge, attitudes/values, and behavioral orientations. Encourages students to become aware of, challenge inconsistencies in, and make informed decisions regarding their commitment to their own or alternative environmental conceptions. Presents…

The Western Australian Science Education Association is an informal group which meets annually for a conference. This document contains the proceedings of the 1994 conference. Papers included were: (1) "Relationship Between Cognitive Style and Students' Proportional Reasoning Ability" (Ayo Akatugba); (2) "Alternative Modes of…

Discusses some of the conceptual difficulties encountered by undergraduate students in learning certain aspects of chemical equilibrium and thermodynamics. Discusses teaching strategies for dealing with these difficulties. (JRH)

Discusses the complexity of chemistry concepts and the identification of instructional barriers in terms of current learning theories. Recommends teaching to improve students' conceptual understanding. Contains 34 references. (WRM)

Reviews five methods of representing cognitive structures: (1) free word association; (2) controlled word association; (3) tree construction; (4) concept map; and (5) flow map. Discusses the applications as well as the limitations of these methods by comparing the types of analysis that are generated. (Contains 37 references.) (Author/YDS)

Argues that, for a misconception to be abandoned, the learner must come to see it as unsatisfactory. The new conception must be intelligible, plausible, and fruitful. Suggests that students should have an active cognitive involvement in the process. Contains 16 references. (DDR)

Focuses on learning difficulties in procedural knowledge, and assesses the procedural difficulties of grade 12 and first- and third-year university students based on common sense reasoning in two areas of chemistry--chemical equilibrium and geometry, and polarity of molecules. (Contains 55 references.) (Author/YDS)

Examines the paradigm debate over established (behavioral and cognitive) and alternative (constructivist) models of instructional design (ID). Discusses instructional strategies and principles, new terms versus new meaning, "straw man" and personalized arguments, expert-determined goals, research-based versus "brand-X" models,…

Considers assumptions implicit within Western science-education research and practices. Argues that Western science underpins science teaching and that other world views are not foregrounded. Claims that the notion of "alternative views" positions knowledge construction in other cultures in ways that do not permit different world views or…