A conservation problem of numerical equivalence which 80% of adults reliably fail and 40% of third graders pass was developed, and responses of 188 subjects (Grades 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and college) to it and related number conservation and probability problems indicated that the differences in nonconservation were rooted in subjects' different…

One of the most important capacities which children employ when learning language is the capacity to generalize. A child who hears an utterance of a verbal expression while perceiving a particular object (or action, aspect, etc.) becomes normally able to apply the expression not only to this object but also to all those objects which, for him, are…

Examines an earth-focus in social studies as a means of fostering better understanding of the physical environment. Presents evidence that this type of study will improve students' knowledge of the economic, historical, and social processes of the earth's inhabitants. (DB)

Investigated the development of children's concepts of the earth utilizing the Piagetian interview method to collect data from a sample of 240 children coming from grades four to eight of an experimental public school in Jerusalem, Israel. (HM)

Three experiments investigated the effects of note taking on "what is learned" by college undergraduates from videotaped lectures. The results suggest that note taking can result in a broader learning outcome, rather than just more learning overall, because an assimilative encoding process is encouraged. (Author/GDC)

Reviews nearly 100 studies concerning the process of concept formation in adolescent science students. (CP)

Normal adolescents, retarded adolescents, and high ability second-graders were compared on their abilities to master high and low structure science materials. An increase of structure was found to be related to recall for all groups, but to be of particular importance for the retarded adolescents. (CP)

Summarizes beliefs and values about child rearing from documents written by experts on the mid-17th to mid-19th centuries. The experts argued that children are innately good rather than evil; environmental factors accounted for differences among children rather than innate factors; and children were autonomous rather than passive learners. (HOD)

Control group students (receiving descriptive, non-inquiry science) and experimental group students (using Science Curriculum Improvement Study-SCIS "Interaction and Systems" materials) were later combined in grade 4 for instruction with SCIS "Subsystems and Variables" materials. Results show similar difficulties in learning…

Reports on a study into the relationship between a student's ability to solve problems in chemistry and his/her understanding of molecular concepts. Argues that teaching students to solve problems about chemistry is not equivalent to teaching about the nature of matter. (TW)

The article includes a brief description of the project "Reckoning with Mathematics." The project is grounded in the belief that reliance in American schools on "textbook as technology" is outdated and counterproductive. A sample student worksheet is included. (PK)

Describes two lessons for helping children learn the concept of habitat. Shows how to make habitat hand mobiles, shoe box habitats, and suggests discussions involving these materials. (CW)

Examines preconceptions regarding several implicit vector characteristics that 15- to 17-year-old students possess just before taking their first physics course. Shows seven vector characteristics and three tasks for interviewing students. Presents the most common student preconceptions regarding each of the implicit vector characteristics. (YP)

The theoretical and reference frameworks developed in a 1982 study proved effective for developing a constructivist approach leading children to build a meaningful and efficient symbolism of number. Results of a three-year longitudinal study are described. (MNS)