Organizes a reading of the conceptual change literature that brings into view a collection of design specifications for a conceptual change apparatus. Analyzes one such apparatus in the particulars of a science education demonstration program produced by the Harvard-Smithsonian Private Universe Project. (Contains 114 references.) (Author/WRM)

Explores the tension between subject knowledge and pedagogic content knowledge in elementary teacher education by documenting students' and inservice teachers' learning about forces in the context of floating and sinking. Describes significant features of the learning process and examines subject-specific aspects of learning by demonstrating how…

Describes a set-up for sending the infrared signal from a common remote control device to an oscilloscope in order to "see" the infrared signal. (WRM)

Describes the construction and use of a magnetic needle that is stronger than those conventionally used for experiments with electromagnetism. (WRM)

Studies 34 elementary school children's understanding of five aspects of energy waste and the ways in which these conceptions develop following teaching. Concludes that the children had good prior awareness of some behaviors that save energy, but their reasons for thinking this were based largely on everyday intuitive ideas that involved…

Describes the MAOF physics education program which is designed to relate large parts of mechanics and electromagnetism to each other via the key concepts of field and potential, while at the same time treat students' conceptual difficulties. Finds that students who studied with the MAOF program significantly improved their physics knowledge…

Illustrates how the five cognitive levels--somatic, mythic, romantic, philosophic, and ironic--can be used to guide teaching and learning activities appropriate for engineering students. Uses the example of the concept of energy to demonstrate how educators might appeal to each mode of thinking for understanding a particular concept. (Contains 11…

Describes an exhibition on radiation and the environment. Reviews students' and lay people's conceptions and how conceptions and constructivism can guide exhibition development. Considers whether such an exhibition can facilitate cognitive change and aid in the understanding of environmental matters using data from 16-year-olds' use of the…

To experience the world of professional science, students must have access to the scientific community and be allowed to become real scientists. A partnership involving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Lewis Center for Educational Research has produced Jupiter Quest, an engaging curriculum…

Examines the effect of 3 different types of multimedia simulation (physical, procedural, and process) for teaching the concept of energy to 14-year-old students. Pre- and posttest results showed significant, consistent cognitive gain for the physical simulation; and a more complex and varied pattern of interaction between type of simulation and…

Presents an activity of students hunting for dirt in the classroom to launch a study of the environment and to provide children with an exercise in which they learn and use the skills of collecting, labeling, organizing, observational drawing, classifying, hypothesizing, and summarizing. (PR)

Students explore the workings of the lever, wheel and axle, and the inclined plane as they build simple toys--a bulldozer and a road grader. The project takes four weeks. Diagrams and procedures are included. (PR)

Describes the EQUALS Family Science Program, a national program designed to promote equity in mathematics, science, and technology, in which the goal is to make children and parents more scientifically literate by doing science investigations together. Presents activities that teachers can use to promote scientific literacy and cultural diversity.…

Reviews the history and habits of the fungus commonly referred to as the "chestnut blight." Considers the impact of the blight and efforts to control it, offers personal and cultural reflections on the blight, and gives tips for incorporating the information into cross-disciplinary lessons. Contains 17 references. (WRM)

Describes the use of Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL) technology and a projectable TI-83 graphing calculator to demonstrate the kinetic behavior of a complex reaction. Explains how the CBL is used to review first-order reactions and the graphing calculator is used to determine the rate constants for a series of consecutive first-order reactions.…