Reviews perspectives on student resources for learning with an emphasis on the practical benefits to be gained for instruction. Explains that physics education research has focused almost exclusively on student difficulties and misconceptions. This work is limited in what it can tell about student knowledge and learning. (Author/MM)

Examines the existing relationship between the degree of structural coherence of 10th grade students' (n=155) preconceptions in mechanics and the viability of conceptual change both before and after teaching. Results show that students with the highest level of formal reasoning change their alternative conceptions more easily when they display a…

Examines the process of students' conceptual changes with regard to air pressure and buoyancy as a result of teaching with the dual situated learning model. Uses a model designed according to the students' ontological viewpoint on science concepts as well as the nature of these concepts. (Contains 40 references.) (Author/YDS)

Describes a demonstration using liquid nitrogen. The demonstration is based on a 500mL transparent polyethylene soft-drink bottle with a screw-on, pop-up drink top. (MM)

Reports on a study examining how upper secondary students (18-19-years-old) in Norway come to terms with wave-particle duality as presented as part of a short introduction to quantum physics. Concludes that school physics should give a more explicit focus to the challenge that quantum physics presents to the classical worldview. (Contains 30…

Presents science activities conducted with liquid nitrogen to demonstrate electricity, magnetism, and kinetic theory. (YDS)

Discusses the importance of research and development in physics education and describes investigations on the effectiveness of some instructional strategies for physics teaching. (YDS)

Reports on an investigation of students' understanding of the concept of time in special relativity. Discusses a series of research tasks to illustrate how student reasoning of fundamental concepts of relativity was probed. Indicates that after standard instruction, students have serious difficulties with the relativity of simultaneity and the…

Use of end-of-chapter textbook problems for teaching and assessing concepts in introductory physics is widespread, as is restriction of student access to the solutions. Surveys student attitudes (n=128) on access to problem solutions, sampling the enrollment in a large calculus-level course. Results confirm a definite preference for freer access…

Collects and examines data on the attitudes of physics instructors towards allowing student access to textbook problem solutions. Student data (n=227) was collected by survey. Compares student and instructor attitudes and discusses the possible significance of the survey results. (Author/MVL)

Presents issues discussed at the International Conference of Women in Physics held at UNESCO in Paris. Points out the disproportionate attrition of females going into graduate studies in physics and differences between developed and developing countries. (Author/YDS)

Investigates the commonly suggested rounding rule for addition and subtraction including its derivation from a basic assumption. Uses Monte-Carlo simulations to show that this rule predicts the minimum number of significant digits needed to preserve precision 100% of the time. (Author/KHR)

Describes the features of and assessment instruments for a new conceptual physics course for non-science majors called 'Wonders of Technology', developed at the Virginia Commonwealth University. (Author/KHR)

Summerizes the controversy surrounding the claim by two University of Utah professors to have achieved cold fusion. Noted are the failure of university administrators to involve other campus scientists in review of the claim and premature establishment of an institute dedicated to the cold-fusion technology. (DB)

The Dallas Science Place contains 55 interactive displays on observable phenomena, organized into 7 topic areas: motion, waves, matter, electromagnetism, energy, change, and entropy. Attempts were made to keep the exhibits' forms elemental, so that the underlying physical phenomena could be readily observed and experienced. (JDD)