Previous research has highlighted the difficulty that infants have in learning to use color words. Even after acquiring the words themselves, infants are reported to use them incorrectly, or overextend their usage. We tested 146 infants from 5 different age groups on their knowledge of 6 basic color words, "red", "green",…

Previous studies show that reading sentences about actions leads to specific motor activity associated with actually performing those actions. We investigate how sign language input may modulate motor activation, using British Sign Language (BSL) sentences, some of which explicitly encode direction of motion, versus written English, where motion…

The co-occurrence of childhood deafness and autism raises complex challenges for diagnosis and family support. In this article, we explore with hearing and Deaf parents their observations of the interaction between deafness and autism and identify how the intersections of deafness and autism are conceptualized in everyday life. Eight parents…

Presents comments from the editorial board of Physics Education to the Royal Society's ad-hoc group on science and the public. Areas examined include whether schools provide students with a useful understanding of science and technology (ST), if the public has sufficient understanding of ST to make balanced judgements, and others. (JN)

Examined the use of metaphors in lectures at a British university, and overseas students' interpretations of them. Found that metaphors were very prevalent and overseas students' interpretations differed significantly from lecturers'. The students often misunderstood the main points of the lecture and misinterpreted the lecturer's stance toward…

Discusses concepts needed to understand plant water relations and results of a study designed to examine the understanding of these concepts by students preparing for A-level examinations. Focuses on students who have learned the topic using the old terminology compared with students adopting the new suggested terms. (Author/JN)

Two areas of concern are addressed: comprehension and expression. It is suggested that an increasing number of students in Great Britain show lower levels of academic achievement in these two areas. (LBH)

The field manual for a series of coordinated studies of the spontaneous acquisition of a second language by adult immigrant workers provides a theoretical and practical framework for the entire project and a source of information about it for other researchers. Chapters 1 and 2 describe the project's objectives and organization. Chapter 3 reviews…

This book is intended to give teachers and student teachers a better understanding of the thinking of adolescent students in science lessons and to indicate the difficulties such students have in understanding the more abstract or formal ideas with which they are presented. It is practical in its orientation as the issues discussed are illustrated…

Explores parallels between understanding of chemistry for younger teenagers with the learning of a language by younger children. Also discusses: (1) teacher perspective and the development of core science; (2) religion and science; and (3) the physics examinations of the Department of Science and Art. (JN)

Interviews were conducted and tests were administered to determine if students found chemistry or physics easier. Reasons for their choices (including the fact that physics was perceived as relating to the life/world domain) and type knowledge used by the students are discussed. (JN)

Examines several areas to be considered in developing physics syllabi. They include (1) the objectives of physics teaching and learning; (2) physics as an experience, based on realistic expectations of what 14- to 16-year-olds are capable of; and (3) the kinds of experiences in which students can succeed (including computer experiences). (JN)

College students (N=52) were given unfamiliar or novel problems (written and interview responses) to determine how they characterize living things, criteria they use to distinguish between living/dead/nonliving, and to determine if their idea of life included the interrelationship between organisms and biosphere. Results and implications are…

An alternative to essay writing involves correcting an article full of mistakes. Suggests extending use of this "deliberate mistakes" correction technique as a device in biology education to include scientific literacy as well as factual understanding as an important objective. (Author/JN)

Describes the construction of a chemistry laboratory. Also discusses the place of science in school technology teaching, a study of students' understanding of simple quantitative relationships in chemistry, and the objectives of school physics. (JN)