Describes a teaching protocol that guides students toward connecting lab activities to the appropriate scientific concepts. Involves five steps: (1) reflective writing; (2) action; (3) dialog notes; (4) direct teaching; and (5) journal writing. (DDR)

Presents a version of the crush-the-can demonstration which is a hands-on activity in which students use an inexpensive, easily made holder for the can called Charlie's clamp. Includes some suggestions for the follow-up discussion. (DDR)

Changes in conceptions of the learning process were studied for 31 Finnish educational psychology students in constructivist and traditional learning environments. Conception changes were similar in both groups, although by the end of the course, those taught in the constructivist environment put more emphasis on critical thinking. (SLD)

Details an instructional approach to understanding another culture through the use of kits that enables children to learn at their own pace. This approach focuses on similarities among and between cultures and allows students to explore a variety of science concepts and understandings. (DDR)

Argues that there are many kinds of understanding and many ways to reach these different understandings. Suggests that this is the reason why articulating general rules that can consistently lead to understanding is difficult. Discusses the relationship between brain structure and learning. (DDR)

Explains the philosophy that forms the basis of a high school physical science course based on astronomy and the activity-based textbook that accompanies it. Cites specific examples of misconceptions related to astronomy and recommends various diagnostic and concept change strategies. (DDR)

Describes a game used in precalculus that builds interest and confidence in the uses of inverse functions. The game is preceded by a worksheet that enables students to discover that f(x) and f-1(x) are mirror images of the line y=x. (DDR)

Discusses the consensus among language teachers that the teaching of grammar helps second language learners develop linguistic competence as part of communicative competence. The article argues that pedagogical grammar can be made less formal by keeping metalinguistic terms, concepts, and analysis at a minimal level. (45 references) (Author/CK)

Evaluates the past performance of the tradition of language planning, in view of a theoretical, conceptual, and methodological improvement of future language planning studies. Sketches the historical development of these studies, discusses ideological features present in much traditional language planning work, and raises various issues related to…

This article describes the modifications that 12 early childhood educators in Japan made to the Sorry! board game to encourage kindergartners' logico-mathematical thinking. Logico-mathematical knowledge is described as including classification, seriation, numerical relationships, spatial relationships, and temporal relationships. Examples of seven…

Explores a case study of a class of 10th grade students whose learning of genetics involved activities using BioLogica, a computer program that features multiple external representations (MERs). Findings indicate that the MERs in BioLogica contributed to students' development of genetics reasoning by engendering their motivation and interest but…

Focuses on three key ideas students need to understand in order to become master students: the importance of ideas or concepts in thinking, how to think within the ideas of a subject or discipline, and how to learn important ideas from textbooks. Makes suggestions to students, including creating a glossary of ideas learned in each course. (NB)

Presents an activity that provides a way to cover the complex topic of mass spectrometry and connects with a discussion of the 2002 Nobel Prize in chemistry. (DDR)

Reports on a study that examined Malaysian science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. Concludes that trainee teachers' lack pedagogical content knowledge of conceptual change strategies. (Contains 23 references.) (DDR)

Examines children's and adults' knowledge of the ozone layer and its depletion, whether this knowledge increases with age, and how the ozone layer and ozone hole might be structured as scientific concepts. Uses a standardized set of questions to interview children and adults in Canada. Discusses implications of the results for health…