Contemporary education policy is dominated by a seriously flawed intellectual framework (school effectiveness) that will eventually fail as a means of educating future citizens. Draws on the work of Scottish philosopher John MacMurray to offer a positive alternative: person-centered education based on emancipatory, communitarian values. (Contains…

Identifies misconceptions concerning the effect of gravity on planetary motion and attempts to foster conceptual change through the hands-on, informal environment of a science museum. (Author/CCM)

Discusses students' (n=10,058) problems with naming oxo salts following a given formula. Many students incorrectly named oxo salts as oxides, and the students' own names for the compounds were more helpful to find the correct formula than the common names. Concludes that high school students are more interested in intellectually challenging…

Students' belief that a larger number has more factors is outlined as a particular example of 'the more of A, the more of B' intuitive rule. Discusses the robustness of this belief by demonstrating students' tendency to perceive conflicting evidence as an exception to the rule. Considers some pedagogical approaches. (Contains 12 references.)…

Some studies of hypertext/hypermedia systems have concluded that there is little evidence supporting its educational efficacy. After examining conceptual and methodological shortcomings of research, this article suggests that the educational potential of hypertext/hypermedia has been underestimated and argues that overcoming these shortcomings…

Rebuts Alfie Kohn's article "Only for My Kid: How Privileged Parents are Undermining School Reform" in the April 1998 "Kappan." Kohn expects the author to pay a fortune for a home in an affluent community so his kids can get violence-prevention training and sing "Kumbaya" in a mainstreamed classroom. Earning the right…

Three big ideas from brain science have arisen during the past 20 to 30 years: neural connections form rapidly early in life; critical periods occur in development; and enriched environments profoundly affect brain development during the early years. Current brain research has little to offer educational practice or policy. (10 references) (MLH)

Presents a survey and analysis of research related to the development of concepts of matter. Proposes that the clarity with which students understand the distinction between matter and objects influences their explanations. Contains 111 references. (DDR)

Studies aspects of the conceptual reorganization and change of students aged 12-18 (N=40). Describes conceptual change through case studies and students' identifications of chemical reactions. Contains 18 references. (DDR)

Because of continuous centering and recentering, paradigm shifts posited by Kuhn are not really changes; they are commensurate. New theories are simply old theories remade and renamed. The alternative is to consider conceptual diversity, abandoning the idea of a paradigm or a singular field of theory and practice. (Contains 27 references.) (MLH)

Studies (n=51) inservice school teachers with regard to their orientations toward geoscience phenomena in general and deep time in particular. Aims to identify the nature of idiosyncratic conceptions of deep time and propose a curricular Deep Time Framework for teacher education. (Contains 29 references.) (Author/YDS)

A proponent rebuts claims that charter schools rob funds and students from regular public schools, gamble with children's lives and taxpayers' money, are not truly accountable, resemble other public schools, undermine democratic values, underserve disabled children, marginalize minorities, invite profiteering, front for vouchers; and represent…

Investigates patterns of students' science thinking across four different science phenomena focusing on changes that come with age and science education. Asks secondary school students whether offered sentences appearing on a computer screen that gave different explanations for four common changes in materials made any sense to them. (Contains 20…

Addresses the use of mathematics when studying the physics of electromagnetism. Focuses on common electromagnetic concepts and their associated mathematical representation and arithmetical tools. Concludes that most students do not understand the significant aspects of physical situations and have difficulty using relationships and models specific…

Introduces an activity on the changes of matter. Uses different colors to represent the phases of water in different temperature ranges and discusses the phase changes of other chemicals. Includes an activity sheet. (YDS)