Administered a questionnaire containing common earth/space science alternative conceptions to preservice elementary teachers (n=122). Suggests that many misconceptions originate in the classroom and that preservice elementary education teachers have many of the same misconceptions that their future students will have. (35 references) (Author/JRH)

Presents a model to analyze conceptual evolution in the classroom, based on the notion of conceptual profile. Suggests that it is possible to use different ways of thinking in different domains, a new concept does not necessarily replace previous ideas, and learning science is to change a conceptual profile and become conscious of different zones…

Interviewed first-grade children (n=40) about forests and living things found in them. Reports that children generally assigned most forest-dwellers to the forests, but also tended to assign almost all other animals, especially carnivores, to the forest as well. Results indicate a general lack of awareness of plant life, insects, water resources,…

United States has produced a generation of students who engage in problem solving without regard for common sense or the text of the problem. Three factors bear the blame: societal beliefs about mathematics, the typical math curriculum, and deficiencies in teacher preparation. New conceptions about learning should help spawn curriculum,…

Discusses the scientific knowledge available to Christopher Columbus and how it influenced his geographically flawed, yet historically significant, decision to sail west in order to travel east. Factors discussed include Aristotle's conclusion that the earth was round, early measurements of latitude and longitude, and early map-making attempts.…

In this interview, Jonathan Kozol, author of "Savage Inequalities," castigates proponents of school choice, shares his frustrations over some current educational trends, deplores President Bush's stinginess regarding educational funding, and speaks eloquently about our neglect of the poor. (MLH)

Recognition, understanding, and implementation of human rights on international scale is idealized goal for which all nations and all peoples should strive. Some myths and traditions characterizing many cultures and subcultures are antithetical to consensual version of human rights. Education is one form of demythologizing traditions incompatible…

Describes the problem-solving behaviors of six novice subjects attempting to solve an electrostatics problem in calculus-based college physics. The level of qualitative thinking exhibited by these novices was determined. Sound procedural knowledge and problem representation were suggested as an integral part of skilled problem solving in physics.…

The term "microgravity" has begun to appear in science texts as a substitute for "weightlessness." Presents examples to clarify three common misconceptions about gravity and weightlessness. Further examines these and other examples with respect to microgravity to make distinctions between the terms and avoid additional…

Describes the Capacitor-Aided System for Teaching and Learning Electricity (CASTLE) project which is a high school electricity curriculum developed by high school and college physics teachers. The project is motivated by research on students' conceptual difficulties in electricity. The instructional materials developed allow students to challenge…

Describes high-speed photographic methods used to demonstrate that the tip of a snapped towel does break the sound barrier. (ZWH)

According to Scott, educators have uncritically accepted tracking as harmful, although little empirical proof has been presented. Jennie Oakes retorts that research evidence on untracking abounds. Anne Wheelock insists that students learn more with untracking. Barbara N. Pavan cites research on effective schools and nongraded schools showing that…

Training, not education, is a common outcome of Japanese education--even at the university level. Individual initiative and independent thought are savagely repressed, and students are harshly punished or bullied for nonconformist behavior. Children of executives transferred to foreign countries face great discrimination when reentering Japanese…

To keep Deming's ideas alive, this article reexamines how Deming's philosophy connects with education and discusses implications for educators, parents, and legislators. Expecting to achieve "quality" results in little time encourages "quick fixes" and a crisis mentality that distort Deming's message and lead nowhere. There are…

Claims of character educators must be reexamined. Enthralled at the prospect of reducing violence, crime, and other irresponsible behavior, untutored readers may assume a direct relationship between values and behavior. If the public enthusiastically endorses programs based on this fallacious assumption, the resulting disappointment may doom all…