Presents three absorption line sources that enhance student understanding of the phenomena associated with the interaction of light with matter and help dispel the misconception that atoms "emit" absorption lines. Sources include neodymium, food coloring and other common household liquids, and fluorescent materials. (MDH)

Except for its relationship to science, mathematics is the forgotten cousin in interdisciplinary teaching and learning. In the Journeys in Mathematics project, teachers engage children in imaginative activities that inspire them to identify patterns and relationships, solve problems, and communicate accurately, using Jonathan Swift's…

Despite an apparent broad-based consensus on the need for standards, it is still appropriate to question their usefulness. Efforts to reform America's schools by specifying standard levels of expected student performance or standard units for measuring outcomes seriously oversimplify a complex and subtle task. Focus should be on (intellectually)…

Critiques use of postmodernism in educational sociology. Analyzes the foundations of postmodern thought, differentiating among its aesthetic, philosophical, and sociological aspects. Examines contributions of Nietzsche and other nineteenth-century romantic conservatives. Postmodern educational thought misreads global educational trends and…

Traditionalist Christians are concerned about OBE's affective objectives and believe that schools indoctrinate children with undesirable social, political, and economic values. Environmentalism, globalism, and multiculturalism are supplanting ideas about prudent resource utilization, patriotism, and America the melting pot. Schools should offer…

Describes thought-provoking activities with the Cartesian Diver system. Presents student answers explaining the phenomena. (PR)

Presents an activity that provides a model of equilibrium with simple concrete examples. Uses an analogy that employs a box of matches and students in groups. (DDR)

Meier and Krashen, both employed in California's education system, do an injustice to students in rehashing an already settled battle. Fed up with two decades of failure, California voters replaced bilingual education with structured English immersion. Meier and Krashen offer no suggestions for coping with Proposition 227. (27 references) (MLH)

Guidelines for managing the child with diabetes in educational settings address the nature of diabetes, attitudes of students with diabetes, common misconceptions, effects on students in the classroom, helpful strategies, and resources. (DB)

Finds that children are naturally generative in their construction of explanations but that they use conceptions in quite complex and fluid ways. Argues that naive conceptions maintain a valuable function. Contains 43 references. (DDR)

Addresses the interface between two scientific disciplines, chemistry and physics, and suggests that learners do not readily integrate their knowledge across such domains. Recommends further research on how demarcations encourage learners. Contains 46 references. (DDR)

Assesses the subject-matter competence in physics of inservice junior secondary science teachers in Hong Kong. Concludes that teachers lack subject-area knowledge. Discusses general implications for educational improvement. Contains 41 references. (DDR)

Focuses on cognitive and affective changes that occurred in one student during the study of heat and temperature. Initially the student's conceptual framework was undifferentiated with regard to heat and temperature; however, course activities and concomitant use of concept substitution helped the student differentiate these concepts and integrate…

Cites common misconceptions about religion and science teaching in the United States. Focuses on the relevance of teaching the theory of evolution, and presents background information on each point. (DDR)

Reports on four models that show a possible pattern of progression that may be related to individual acquisition of conceptual knowledge about electricity. Contains 45 references. (DDR)