Debates over what sort of multiculturalism should be provided have neglected the origin, evolution, and rhetorical function of the basic term culture. Viewing humanity historically, it is sounder to think in terms of an ecumene of civilization, and to return, in education, to the concept of culturing. (Author/SLD)

The Bracken Basic Concept Scale, for use with preschool and primary-aged children, determines a child's school readiness and knowledge of English-language verbal concepts. The instrument measures 258 basic concepts in such categories as comparisons, time, quantity, and letter identification. This paper describes test administration, scoring and…

Developmentally appropriate map activities incorporate such concepts as topology, projective space, spatial information, point of reference, direction, cardinal direction and orienting. Such activities offer children excitement, challenge, and a sense of discovery. (BB)

Study tested several hypotheses relating concept learning to the use of teaching skills in training settings. Data from 14 training studies that measured both factors were analyzed. Results showed significant relationships between the concept and skill variables and suggested that skill acquisition in a training setting is mediated by concept…

Reviews four hypotheses about learning: Comenius's transmission-reception theory, information processing theory, Gestalt theory, and Piagetian theory. Uses the categories preunderstanding, conceptual change, and learning processes to classify and assess investigations on learning processes. (PR)

Summarizes the results of three related studies whose overall purpose was to determine elementary students' conceptions about earthquakes at two widely separated locations in the United States. Certain topics, such as the cause of earthquakes, seemed to cause difficulty for students. New definitional responses emerged in the studies that took…

Provides findings of a study designed to explore ways in which changes in students' conceptual knowledge of photosynthesis are related to their study strategies and achievement and to course content. The authors ask teachers to consider these results and implications when facilitating students' learning. (ZWH)

The educational birthrights of many students, as demonstrated by the author's experiences with a high school class, remain unfulfilled because students are largely ignorant of history and the broad human cultural heritage. Their aspirations and opportunities are being blighted by attitudes they form without real stimulation of their intellects.…

Analyzing the paradigmatic shift from Peripatetic to Galilean physics can help to understand students' difficulties in learning Newtonian mechanics. Promotes the use of historical texts in physics teaching as a means to support students in becoming aware of the structural differences between everyday life and scientific views of the world. (Author)

The history of atomic theory is outlined from earliest times up to the orbital model and describes a corresponding teaching method. The historical part of the paper emphasizes social and philosophical aspects in the development of atomic theory. The second part of the paper describes a method for teaching this material at the secondary level.…

Describes a science project in which students make models of polymers using polyvinyl alcohol solution. Students make T-shirts using polymer paint to remind them of their activities. (MDH)

Combines two strands: one being an exposition of the variety of explanations which are given for the phenomenon of floating; the other being the pedagogical implications which arise from the use of alternative models in science. Attention is drawn to the ethical questions that may arise when primary science seems to conflict with accepted…

Describes the use of concept cartoons as a teaching strategy. The cartoons represent scientific ideas in everyday situations and use published research to identify common areas of misunderstanding which then provide a focus for the concept cartoons. Cartoons provide teachers with good access to children's ideas, promote conceptual change,…

Describes a teaching technique based on using children's questions as a formative and summative assessment tool with emphasis placed on children's answers as well as their questions. Children's explanations clearly show their thinking. Eliciting further explanations allows children to look deep into their understanding and construct meanings for…

Environmental education is often characterized by a concern with developing attitudes and behavior rather than developing environmental knowledge and concepts. Students may thus unknowingly hold and later teach environmental misconceptions. Discusses the use of interactive worksheets to provide a time-effective means of developing students'…