Provides instructional models for solids, liquids, and gases that incorporate a few adjustments for keeping the features and scale as valid as possible. States that 99 percent of the material in the universe is in a dominant form called plasma. (RT)

Examines the truth behind commonly-accepted myths related to Jimmy Carter presidency. Looks at belief that Carter was not a politician; at contradictory misconception that he was a liberal democratic politician; and at the belief that Carter presided over a decline in U.S. diplomatic prestige and military strength. Concludes that these myths…

Examined are tenth-grade Western Australian students' conceptual knowledge of gravity and the motion of the planets. Students were interviewed with seven cards, and a four-item diagnostic test based on the interview data on the first four cards was developed. A total of 113 students' responses to the test are summarized. (YP)

Explores the relationships between seventh-grade students' misconceptions of genetics and natural selection and four cognitive variables: reasoning ability; mental capacity; verbal intelligence; and cognitive style. Reports that only the reasoning ability was significantly related to the number of misconceptions. (Author/YP)

This article presents an approach to teaching "motion and inertia." The teaching strategy consists of four phases: (1) orientation; (2) eliciting children's ideas; (3) restructuring of ideas; and (4) improving and applying. Samples of students' ideas on the concept of mechanics are provided. Lists 11 references. (YP)

Discusses the correctness of the directions of acceleration at various points in a pendulum problem shown in Reif (1987). Provides the author's responses to the comments on the problem. (YP)

Evaluates an elementary textbook (Journeys in Science, volume 3) on thermodynamics. Points out some inadequate expressions and explains the reasons. (YP)

Focuses on the article by Elliot W. Eisner (1971) in which Eisner identified seven myths held by art educators. Considers which myths are still alive today and the reasons that art education seems doomed to always have myths. (GEA)

Discusses the need and the advantages of using conceptual change strategy in science classrooms. Describes three steps of the strategy: diagnosis; challenging conceptions; and applying the new concepts. Lists seven references. (YP)

Students use their preschool experiences to form personal theories about the world and rarely correct misconceptions even when new information is presented. This article describes an elementary science teacher's efforts to help fifth and sixth graders revise personal electricity theories, based on experimentation. There is no simple way to…

Investigates South African teachers as a possible source of pupils' erroneous ideas about respiration. The views of 136 teachers were elicited by means of an analysis of how teachers marked an essay containing errors commonly found among year-12 students. Teacher responses suggest that many of them as well might have erroneous ideas. (PR)

Data were collected via semistructured interviews on female college students views about the natural world. Fundamental beliefs are presented as a concept map and characterized by bipolar descriptive codes. The most intriguing observation of the study was science's apparent lack of influence on students' beliefs about nature even though these…

This paper provides an overview and discussion of a study of young children's knowledge and understanding of the management of waste materials. It describes a semistructured interview and discussion methodology used to ascertain details of children's knowledge and misconceptions about this key environmental issue. (LZ/Author)

Adolescents (n=151-158), adults (n=18), and scientists (n=5) were involved in two studies conducted to identify concepts of heat energy and temperature held by each of the participants and investigate the impact of a middle school science curriculum designed to help students understand everyday thermal events. Results indicate that each group had…

Analyzes the cognitive processes and kinds of knowledge needed to work in a scientific domain like physics. Discusses the processes needed to interpret scientific concepts, uses of quantitative and qualitative descriptions, hierarchical ways of organizing scientific knowledge, and processes facilitating problem solving. Describes the use of these…