This report describes a comparison of the effectiveness of two types of instruction on undergraduate students' learning of the concept of force. Findings indicate that students who participated in the Integrated Freshman Year Curriculum for Science, Engineering and Mathematics improved slightly more on the Force Concept Inventory than students who…

Traces change in conception of gravity in a boy from kindergarten until second grade, focusing on the process by which persons restructure ideas that differ from accepted scientific understandings, and acquire scientific ideas. Provides criteria for defining an alternative conception; suggests how conditions in the initial interview may have…

Discusses 10 Internet misconceptions: all information is available, no copyright laws apply, all information is free, complete research papers can be completed, all sites are true and equal, objectionable material is everywhere, information can be found faster, complex databases are easier to search, latest information is always available,…

Explores the influences of text structure on students' conceptual change. Case studies were conducted and results showed that individuals used refutational text to change their alternative conceptions and acquire new concepts. Findings indicate that refutational text does cause cognitive conflict. While refutational text is effective for groups,…

Provides examples and a discussion of the Inquiry Cooperation Model (ICM). The ICM is a way of describing a pattern of communicative cooperation between teacher and students. It tries to develop students' preconceptions into mathematical competence. Contains 15 references. (DDR)

Reviews evidence on gender inequities in science education and gender differences in "ways of knowing" and argues that making science instruction more effective can promote greater equity. Describes a conceptual change approach to science instruction that explicitly activates students' preexisting conceptions and misconceptions and helps students…

States unequivocally that the classification of humans into races has no validity within the discipline of biology. Maintains that such classification is strictly cultural and any attempt to discern differences in cognitive or other abilities among populations must confront the limits of scientific knowledge. (MJP)

Examines some of the misconceptions about the nature of critical thinking. Focuses on the characterization of critical thinking in terms of processes or skills and the separation of critical thinking and knowledge. Offers a different conception of critical thinking. (Contains 46 references.) (DDR)

Described are the general problem-solving strategies and their nature and functions. The importance of integrating different types of general problem-solving strategies with content-specific teaching in mathematics classes is discussed. (KR)

Discussed is the importance or unimportance of including visuals and illustrations in science textbooks. Characteristics of visuals, misconceptions, individual student differences, publishers views, and recommendations to science teachers when choosing science texts are included. (KR)

Examined is the situation in which pupils invent mathematics on their own and teachers' reactions to this situation. The assimilation of students' original ideas into correct mathematical concepts is discussed. (CW)

Cites the misconceptions that students beginning the study of electric circuits often have about electricity. Explains the use of capacitors with circuits of batteries and light bulbs to introduce electrostatic forces and help to alleviate the problem of misconceptions. (RT)

Reported are the differences in the understanding of concepts involved in photosynthesis and its role in ecology between students who had studied advanced biology and those who had not. Reports that the less experienced students had a poorer understanding of autotrophic respiration and energy aspects of photosynthesis. (CW)

Examined the effects of an instructional method used to remedy students' difficulties caused by fragmented and incorrectly interpreted knowledge. Described the method using explicit concept-interpretation procedures. Finds that the method helped to revise students' deficient prior knowledge about acceleration, and helped them to interpret it…

Reviews the logic underlying mathematical induction and presents 10 tasks designed to help students develop a conceptual framework for mathematical induction. (Contains 20 references.) (MDH)