Fifteen true-false statements are provided that are to be used to spur discussion and arguments about the concept of motion. Each statement is carefully worded to sound plausible, but each one attacks some misunderstanding common to students who are encountering Newton's mechanics for the first time. (KR)

Alternative classifications commonly used by children aged 12, 14, and 15 are presented. Why children use such alternatives is discussed. Age- and gender-related trends in performance on classification tasks is examined. Children's attitudes to classification and their perceptions of its usefulness in school and everyday contexts are reviewed. (KR)

Examined are first-year medical students' (n=160) explanations of complex concepts in cardiopulmonary physiology following a lecture series. The results revealed systematic misconceptions by the students in developing a pathophysiological model of the problem. The implications for science instruction within a medical curriculum are discussed.…

Criticizes Evers and Lakomski's book "Knowing Educational Administration" (1991) for misinterpreting the author's views about the manipulative nature of administrative science. Societal forces shaped the "social control" conceptions of administration prevalent during the 1960s and 1970s. Evers and Lakomski's analysis of…

The radical left has disseminated considerable disinformation concerning religious conservatives' supposed "agenda" for America's public schools. Rather than seeking to ban books, impose mandatory prayer, and eliminate school breakfast programs, the Christian Coalition has a mainstream agenda favoring parental rights, drug- and…

In "Snapshots from High School: Teachers' vs. Professors' Views," Dona Kagan describes an indirect dialog that she orchestrated between two Alabama high school teachers and two unnamed education professors ("Educational Leadership," March 1993). Burch says that Kagan misrepresents and oversimplifies university/school-classroom…

The language-related attitudes and beliefs that young students bring into the classroom carry serious implications for their successful second-language acquisition and intercultural communication. This article illustrates the predominance of student misconceptions and cultural stereotypes in one setting. Students' expectations and their beliefs…

Shows why most discussions of self-esteem theory and practice are unsatisfactory. Part I reviews available research, which finds little causal relationship between self-esteem and student achievement. Part II calls into question the values inherent in the concept, particularly the overemphasis on individualism and self-actualization. Part III…

Teachers at all levels are encouraged to use role-playing and simulation. Unfortunately, teachers usually overestimate role-playing's learning value and often ascribe too much power to simple simulation activities. Teachers use these methods mainly to change behavior (and values), not reinforce curriculum content. Sociodramas (scenes based on…

Although teachers at all levels are encouraged to use role-playing and simulation, they usually overestimate role-playing's learning value. Teachers use these methods mainly to change behavior (and values), not reinforce curriculum content. Sociodramas (scenes based on typical situations facing children) are more effective role-playing activities…

Much research comparing public and private schools infers that private schools' superiority is trivial, misleading, and results from skimming the best students. This article describes nontrivial private school advantages, such as a communitarian emphasis, greater influence on outside-class behavior, promotion of intergenerational bonding,…

Children of 2 different age groups (11-12, n=246; and 13-14, n=196) were asked to draw and write about dissolving in 2 different ways. Greater percentage of children at both ages gave accurate particle interpretation that accurate view of observable process. Consistency between two ways of looking at dissolving was not found to improve with age.…

Changes in children's understanding of experimentation are examined. Sixteen fifth and sixth graders worked on two experimentation problems consistent with an engineering and science model, respectively. The science model was associated with broader exploration, more selectiveness about evidence interpreted, and greater attention to establishing…

This study questions the effectiveness of a traditional teaching-by-example technique when used with students who hold misconceptions. Interview techniques were used to explore students' (n=21) responses to two different uses of examples and to provide indications of student reasoning. Results indicate that when students hold a misconception,…

Ideas and scientific definitions as reported by 9-12 year olds collected from class discussions, essays, or examination papers over the course of 32 years are presented. Topics include the living body, tracts, metabolism, the senses, the skeleton, the heart, respiratory ailments, genetics, microbiology, and modern medicine. (KR)