A theory is proposed for how students develop competence with the written symbols of decimal fractions. Competence is viewed as the cumulative and sequential mastery of four separate cognitive processes. The theory was tested with small groups of students, most of whom were able to acquire the first two processes. (MNS)

Discusses some difficulties in teaching the concept of voltage to secondary school students. Presents and describes the content of a teaching sequence introducing voltage as a primary concept through relationships with other variables. Provides an example of the delivery of the teaching model. (YP)

Children's magical explanations and beliefs were investigated in two studies. Found that many four-year olds view magic as a plausible mechanism, yet reserve magical explanations for certain real world events that violate their causal expectations. Parents and culture at large may at first actively support magical beliefs whereas peers and schools…

Two lessons from comparable undergraduate courses in physics and engineering are analyzed to identify content, issues emphasized, and concepts used. Differences reflecting the pure nature of one field (physics) in contrast to the applied nature of the other are identified. Implications for classroom instruction and for research on college teaching…

Presents a sequence of hands-on activities to help students understand the concept of arithmetic mean and gain experience in using mathematical models. Students create models in the process of solving problems and communicate to the class the meaning attached to the models. (MDH)

Develops a conceptual framework for understanding contemporary race relations in the United States. The framework focuses on the critical components involved in the development and institutionalization of dominant-subordinate relationships. (GR)

Assists teachers involved in bilingual instruction in improving their understanding of two aspects of bilingual development: interlanguage and of code-switching. Both are natural and creative outgrowths of being bilingual, i.e., alternative forms created by the cognitive/conceptual synthesis of two languages. (30 references) (CK)

Two studies with students in grades 7 to 10, explored whether adolescents can and will construct abstract visualizations to structure complex information. Experiment 1 showed students can construct novel information with visualizations. Experiment 2 showed that students will analogically transfer specific visualizations and will transfer the…

Elementary school children were asked to recall information about individuals either labeled elderly or not labeled at all. Found that children rated the elderly as unattractive, poor, sad, and sick and also had negative feelings about being old. Results suggest that children's concepts or stereotypes about the elderly affect the organization and…

Interview and questionnaire responses of students in grades K-10 completing common and decimal fraction tasks suggested the existence of 2 sequential unistructural-multistructural-relational learning cycles within the concrete symbolic mode. (46 references) (MKR)

Explores the usefulness of the Conceptual Change Model for examining the relationship between the pedagogical experiences provided in a science methods class and preservice elementary teachers' changing concepts about teaching and learning science. A case study format is used to report and discuss findings. (LZ)

Presents a view of the interplay among the various factors of personal experience, language, and socialization in the process of learning science in classrooms. Discusses the problematic relations among scientific knowledge, the learning of science, and pedagogy. (GLR)

Describes the implementation of a new microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) curriculum focusing on motion into a physical science course for preservice elementary teachers at Indiana University. Reports the results of tests administered to teachers before and after the motions unit. Discusses implications for instruction. (LZ)

Reevaluates the role of dependence in late-life development using concepts drawn from psychology, sociology, social work, gerontology, and scholarship on women's development. Presents old age as a time of continued positive growth and change. Argues against prevailing notions that successful aging features independence and health until death. (RJM)

Investigated seven-year-old children's understanding of certain geographical terms. Found that children this age have considerable difficulty with some concepts and that even vernacular terms are often misunderstood. Results support the idea of children's alternative conceptions and suggest that, for teaching to be more effective, children's prior…