Reviews studies which concluded that brief fantasy exercises can create false memories in preschool children. Raises important issue about the credibility of memory-creation research with preschool children. States that there are social costs in perpetuating information derived from studies that were not appropriately designed to adequately test…

Reports on students' preexisting knowledge and examines misconceptions among nonscience major undergraduate students. Focuses on evaluating results of misconceptions in selected astronomy courses. (YDS)

Discusses in detail the claim that certain well-known physics experiments demonstrate the magnetic field produced by Maxwell's displacement current. Addresses the question of whether the displacement current acts as a source of magnetic field in the same way as a current in a wire would. (Contains 12 references.) (WRM)

Analyzes responses of 300 parents of children educated in a district enrolling 36% of its elementary students in a multitrack year-round school. Neither calendar was perceived as perfect; parents whose children attend year-round schools had difficulties scheduling family activities. However, these problems do not necessarily detract from parents'…

Surveys business communications students. Finds that students' perceptions about the frequency and use of customer communication, e-mail and fax machines, and visual aids were consistent with the realities of the workplace. Discusses in more detail students' perceptions that were inconsistent with the workplace regarding business document creation…

Presents a study designed to test the effectiveness of a constructivist-historical teaching strategy in changing students' misconceptions about the earth's shape and gravity at the upper elementary and middle school levels. Contains 27 references. (DDR)

Addresses the possible connection between misconceptions of energy in biological phenomena and adherence to scientifically oriented conceptions of biology. Makes recommendations for basing the biology curriculum on the second law of thermodynamics. Contains 31 references. (DDR)

Describes a novel method for analyzing concept maps for research and analysis purposes. Examines 56 complex concept maps generated from student interviews on the topic of chemical bonding. (Contains 32 references.) (Author/YDS)

Explores aspects of the language used in student's written work in a secondary mathematics classroom as a means of assessing their mathematical understanding. Focuses on student's conceptualizations of polygons and their attempts to differentiate between them. Examines the use of database and concordancing software to understand major sources of…

A study conducted by the Indiana Youth Institute ("De-Track Schools," 1991) indicts a tracking system that helps many academically talented students prepare for college, but fails to prepare noncollege-bound students for much of anything. Tracking, as typically practiced, benefits teachers, not students; is contradictory to American…

Summarizes the main claims of Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve," discusses the scientific arguments regarding these claims, and presents educational implications of the current state of scientific knowledge. If we fail to recognize the diverse abilities of students lacking high intelligence quotients, we will waste our nation's…

Presents the results of a questionnaire given to 563 elementary students to study their ideas of actions that would reduce the greenhouse effect. Most of the children (87%) appreciated that planting trees would help reduce global warming. During interviews it was discovered that children were confused between the greenhouse effect and ozone layer…

Reports the results of various concepts held by children of different ages dealing with weight, heaviness, gravity, and force. (PR)

Discusses the importance of fostering critical thinking in chemistry. Presents strategies to improve critical thinking that were used in general chemistry for science and engineering majors, a similar course for less-prepared science and engineering majors, and a course for nonscience students. (JRH)

Presents a theoretical model for developing environmental conceptions that incorporate environmental knowledge, attitudes/values, and behavioral orientations. Encourages students to become aware of, challenge inconsistencies in, and make informed decisions regarding their commitment to their own or alternative environmental conceptions. Presents…