Significant instructional changes in mathematics will be achieved only if each educator involved with school mathematics engages in a personal rethinking of various aspects of mathematics instruction and identifies some concrete ways in which his or her current practice could be modified to reflect the results of such rethinking. This book is…

Myth plays a role in shaping the way outdoor educators develop pedagogy and curriculum, and its influence needs to be critically evaluated in such processes. In mythic narratives about Australian culture, the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860 is an icon: a story whose significance has often been evoked in discussion of a national ethos and…

Math modeling is currently at the focus of educational methodologists' attention. However, little is known about the extent to which principles of the math modeling lead to methodological fallacies in educational research. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and principles of math modeling and to examine its application in…

This paper introduces issues related to the role of intuitive knowledge in physics learning. Phenomenological primitives, which form the base level for intuitive explanations in the research, are discussed. Three primary questions are the focus of this paper: (1) What role, if any, does intuitive knowledge play in physics problem solving? (2) How…

By stressing the importance of either technology or librarianship, commentators on digital libraries have created a false dichotomy in the literature. This article describes the process of creating a digital library at the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) that balances technological empowerment. Concludes that digital libraries need…

Presents examples of various kinds of chemical misinformation culled from newspapers and magazines. Excerpts vary from the comic to the tragic--some errors are conceptual and others are quantitative. Appropriate questions and answers are included. (DKM)

Educators often presume that all children prenatally exposed to crack or cocaine will be out of control in classrooms and doomed to failure. This article debunks five popular myths concerning such children. Educators should forgo the notion that these children exhibit similar behaviors. They should consider the variables affecting behavior and…

Explains student misconceptions of electricity. Presents a lesson plan on electricity that focuses on how to build a circuit and current flows in serial and parallel circuits. (YDS)

Notes in recent decades, child advocacy has failed to support a cohesive group of committed congressional representatives and to rally existing organizations to common causes. Suggests the proliferation of advocacy organizations for specialized programs was counterproductive and that future efforts should provide adequate funding for existing…

Compares misconceptions associated with electric circuits between high school students in the People's Republic of China and in the United States. In general, findings indicate that the Chinese students did better on the problems than did the American students. Discusses the importance of physics in the Chinese curriculum. (JRH)

Educators should probably refrain from sending their manuscripts to the most prestigious, best-known journals, while ignoring the less widely circulated journals. This practice limits one's potential target audiences. Writers can avoid other potential pitfalls surrounding journals' acceptance rates, refereed status, research-reporting format,…

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 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)

Presents an interview-based study of (n=56) elementary school students. Determines students' understanding about insect characteristics, life cycles, environmental conditions, and impact on humans. Suggests building units of instruction based on students' personal questions about insects. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/YDS)

Describes methods used by scientists to investigate the past. Explains the scientific model existing in textbooks and methods for studying evolutionary history. (Contains 30 references.) (YDS)