J. E. Helms's (1995b) White racial identity theory is said to resemble a pseudoscience in certain respects because its empirical support is based on the White Racial Identity Attitude Scale (J. E. Helms & R. T. Carter, 1990) in spite of consistent evidence that the instrument does not measure the constructs that the theory proposes.

Despite the intense focus on the achievement gap that exists between African American, Latino, and other students of color and their White counterparts, the achievement gap discourse keeps us locked in the deficit paradigm. This article challenges us to look at the inherent fallacies of the achievement gap discourse and place students' academic…

Science educators have generally agreed that understanding the atom concept is the basis of science education. However, the numerous research studies have shown that many students at all educational levels have difficulties understanding this concept. This study was developed under three headings. The first was to identify misconceptions that…

Beliefs about learning and physical difficulties were explored in 50 younger children (M = 5.6, SD = 1.0 years) and 50 older children (M = 9.5, SD = 1.1 years). Participants were asked why they thought some children had learning or physical difficulties and whether children with these difficulties would always have them. The majority of older…

Central to the argument about the influence of media on learning is how this influence is measured or ascertained. Conventional methods which comprise the use of true and quasi-experimental designs are inadequate. Several lessons can be learned from this observation on the media debate. The first is that, conventional methods of ascertaining the…

By charter, national Greek organizations (ie, fraternities and sororities) place an emphasis on upholding personal integrity, academic scholarship, and development of campus leaders. Recent concerns, however, assert that the drinking behaviors of members of Greek organizations are antithetical to the mission of their universities. Objective: The…

Since phonemic awareness is a crucial element in the invented spelling process, a survey of 15 whole language teachers determined the standpoint of phonemic awareness in the philosophy of whole language teachers. The 15 teachers, all 5 kindergarten and 10 first-grade teachers in a school district in western New York, were administered a 16-item…

In most classrooms science has been presented as an inert body of knowledge to be assimilated rather than a process of inquiry and a way to make sense of our world. This traditional approach has allowed teachers to cover a great many topics but the quality of learning that it has yielded has proven disappointing. This article outlines some major…

Although women typically do as well as or better than men in the introductory computer science course at City University of New York's College of Staten Island, relatively few women even attempt it. This paper is an analysis of the transcripts of five years of computer science majors (n=626; 449 men, 177 women) at that institution. Data reveals…

This paper examines the nature of physics students' knowledge, the means to identify alternative conceptions, and possible methods to overcome misconceptions. This examination is a survey of the techniques and ideas of a large number of researchers who are seeking their own solutions to this problem. An examination of the nature of knowledge…

One dilemma of constructivist modes of instruction, which involve engaging students in discussions concerning a range of possible explanations for a given phenomenon, is that such an approach may confuse students who believe that absolute scientific truth exists. Historical dialogues in which various perspectives are aired by key scientists of the…

Recent research has shown that serious misconceptions frequently survive high school and university instruction in mechanics. It is interesting to inquire whether Newton himself encountered conceptual difficulties before he wrote the "Principia." This paper compares Newton's pre-"Principia" beliefs, based upon his writings,…

Advanced knowledge acquisition in a subject area is different in many important ways from introductory learning (and from expertise). In this paper some of the special characteristics of advanced learning of complex conceptual material are discussed. The paper notes that these characteristics are often at odds with the goals and tactics of…

Describes the distinctive features of the common snapping turtle. Discusses facts and misconceptions held about the turtle. Provides guidelines for proper care and treatment of a young snapper in a classroom environment. (ML)

The paper identifies possible factors associated with changes in style and presentation of diagrams of lunar phases and eclipses in school textbooks and other resources. Science curriculum resource materials used extensively during the past two hundred and fifty years in North America and Australia provide insights into teaching and learning of…