Reports on a study designed to find out what scientists and science students actually do when they are reading familiar and unfamiliar graphs. Describes changes in ontologies of scientists and science students as they engage in the reading tasks assigned to them. Theorizes a transition of graphs from things to signs that come to stand for natural…

Students in undergraduate chemistry courses find, as a rule, topics with a strong mathematical basis difficult to master. In this study we investigate whether such mathematically related problems are due to deficiencies in their mathematics foundation or due to the complexity introduced by transfer of mathematics to a new scientific domain. In the…

It is not conceivable that in a mixture or compound a component may exist in a negative ratio. Traditionally, therefore, a negative value could not be plotted on triangular coordinates. However, negative values are explicitly allowed, and the results extend the use of triangular coordinates as shown in this article. (JN)

Presents a laboratory exercise designed to introduce graphical extrapolation. Major advantages of the method are in its simplicity and speed. The only measuring devices are a centimeter ruler and a micrometer caliper to check wall thickness. (JN)

Investigations of scientific concepts using inquiry can be included in the traditional college lecture. This lesson uses the Learning Cycle to demonstrate therapeutic drug range, a basic concept in pharmaceutical science. Students use graphing to discover patterns as a part of data analysis and interpretation of provided investigation data.…

Describes some observations of novice students during a data-logging activity and draws on recent relevant research. Discusses aspects of students' talk about real-time graphs and reports on their perceptions of using IT in science. Suggests that such talk may help develop students' appreciation of the meaning in their data and their skills in…

Teaches data interpretation using the example of world running records for men and women. Explains different ways of plotting data. (YDS)

Describes a graphical method for representing image formation in lenses and mirrors. (MLH)

Two intact chemistry classes participated in a study and the same teacher taught both a line graphing unit with computer-supported activities and one without. Results indicate that there were no statistically significant interaction effects among treatments and scientific reasoning levels. (Contains 40 references.) (Author/NB)

Describes a simple demonstration in which students toss crumpled paper on opposite sides of a classroom and graph the results in order to demonstrate dynamic equilibrium. (WRM)

In this article, the learning progress of one fifth-grade student is examined with regard to the development of her graph interpretation skills as she participated in the Junior Science Institute (JSI), a two-week, science intensive summer camp in which participants engaged in microbiology research and application. By showcasing the student's…

Outlines a teaching method using graphs for explaining phase changes and the effect of pressure and the relationships between temperature, entropy, enthalpy, energy, Gibbs function, Helmholtz function and volume. (GS)

Reviews the equations of motion and the use of a sine-sine coordinate grid for convenient plotting or analyzing of Lissajous figures. (Author/GS)

Examines the line graphing ability of middle/high school students (N=625) to provide baseline data on the mastery of line graphing subskills. Results show that seventh- and eighth-grade students were less successful in graphing than high school students, suggesting that graphing skills should be introduced and emphasized in earlier grades. (JN)

This book looks at how teachers implement national math and science standards in their classrooms. Teacher-authored chapters provide insights into how children think and reason as they pose questions, collect data, and build data models to answer their questions. While the spotlight is primarily on student understanding and its development over…