Determined if there are certain propositions that physics students (N=31) share with respect to a topic, to what extent is a student's knowledge on a subject idiosyncratic, and if there are different groups of students whose members share distinctive sets of propositions. Results are reported and discussed. (DH)

The traditional K-3 social studies curriculum has focused on food, clothing, shelter, communication, transportation, and other cultural universals. Very little information exists about children's prior knowledge and thinking about these topics. This study was designed to provide such information with respect to the topic of family living, and in…

Results of a case study (one graduate physics tutor) demonstrate that a person's conceptions, which include metaphysical commitments, play a significant role in the way s/he understands complex subject matter such as Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. (Author/SK)

Describes a study that conducted interviews with 27 linguistic minority parents (i.e., parents of students for whom English is not their first language) to investigate their general understanding and use of public libraries. Reasons for nonuse of libraries are discussed, including a lack of knowledge about libraries, no prior experience, and…

Coordinates anthropological and cognitive perspectives on one child's learning of the standard addition algorithm in second and third grade. Analysis showed that the student abandoned his self-generated computational algorithms in favor of less understood conventional procedures. (25 references) (Author/MKR)

Very little information exists about children's prior knowledge and thinking (including misconceptions) about transportation, a topic commonly taught in elementary social studies. To develop such information, individual interviews were conducted with 96 K-3 students, stratified according to grade level, achievement level, and gender. The students…

This study examined practices of teachers in Wake County Public Schools' (WCPSS) middle school Algebra I classes. Regression analyses of standardized state testing results allowed for identification of the most effective and least effective Algebra I teachers. The study used surveys, observations, and focus group interviews to compare and contrast…

This report opens with a review of how two structured interview protocols that identify the nature and scope of children's science-related activities outside of school were developed. The interview procedures are known as Community and Home Activities Related To Technology and Science (CHARTS) with the preschool version known as CHARTS/PS and…

Reports on a one-year action research study at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) which explored processes by which a cohort of postgraduate teacher trainees learned personal information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Discusses learning strategies reported by students in interviews; considers previous experience and software…

Discusses the frequent misconception displayed by students that chromosome structure is a function of chromosome number or ploidy. Provides detailed analyses of the evidence concerning the prevalence of this ploidy/structure misconception among students of introductory genetics and the potential sources for inaccurate communication that it can…

Using a qualitative approach, this study investigated how the use of GIS technology affected fourth graders' geography learning and understanding of place. For this study, a GIS module was developed and implemented. The data gathering included transcripts from video and audio recordings of classroom instructions, interviews with the students and…

In this preliminary investigation (part of a study of the role of prior knowledge in learning) the views of students about prior knowledge and the importance it has for learning were studied. An effort was made to verify whether the previously proposed model of the concept was congruent with student views. Forty of 120 students at the Open…

Eight alternative frameworks of students' conceptions of gravity are discussed. Data supporting these frameworks were obtained during 40-minute interviews dealing with force. (SK)

Argues that inventions are of the utmost importance in knowledge development, and that conventions play an important role in inventions by providing support for their development. This position borrows from Piaget's perspective regarding figurative and operative aspects of thought. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

This article examines conceptual learning of genetics in a Year 10 Australian classroom from an ontological perspective. The study was part of a larger research project about teaching and learning genetics with computer-based multiple representations. Genetics is an important but difficult topic to teach and learn at school. The study used an…