In a November 1998 "Forbes Magazine" article, Peter Brimelow claims that seven states, including Indiana, employ a greater percentage of "nonteaching bureaucracy" than classroom teachers. Using National Center for Education Statistics school staffing definitions, this article paints a different picture and decries the folly of…

Describes a simple and novel method for identifying misconceptions. Utilizes the Certainty of Response Index (CRI) in conjunction with answers to multiple-choice questions. (Author/CCM)

Finds that 75 students entering an introduction to astronomy course at university held a series of misconceptions about several central topics in basic astronomy. (Author/CCM)

Elaborates on the need for research to focus on specific concepts and processes related to technological literacy, students' conceptions or misconceptions about technology, and curriculum integration. (SK)

In the zeal to promote much-needed governmental funding of infant day care, there is tendency to glamorize alternative care-giving arrangements. In most cases, the quality of infant care will be optimized when delivered at home by mature, competent parents or parent surrogates. These benefits should not be devalued to bolster the cause of infant…

Argues that a confusion of craft and technology is responsible for the erosion and splintering of the discipline of educational technology. Describes the positive and negative qualities of craft and technology and gives examples of the consequences of emphasizing one over the other and recommends a greater blending of the two approaches. (PEN)

Discusses ideas about the particulate nature of matter and assesses the extent to which these represent a compromise between scientific and educational considerations. Analyzes relations between the particulate nature of matter in science and science education in an attempt to understand children's inclination to attribute all kinds of macroscopic…

Analyzes the validity and reliability of the evidence from children's ideas from a constructivist viewpoint and proposes a guiding set of methodological principles for the generation and evaluation of evidence. Uses the guiding principles to make a critical analysis of some well-known research studies in the field of chemistry. Contains 33…

Discusses the misconception that salts are completely ionizing in solution, the presence of this error in textbooks, probable origins of the error, covalent bonding and ion pairs, and how to tell students the truth. (MKR)

Explores high school biology and the teaching of genetics. The question is asked, Can the use of relevant, meaningful human genetics concepts diminish the number of misconceptions formed between new and existing concepts? Can the application of the Ausubelian learning theory also decrease the acquisition of misconceptions? (SAH)

Indicates the importance of science literacy in the population. Makes recommendations for a successful liberal arts science course such as using an interactive inquiry oriented approach and including recent scientific views. (YDS)

Although anorexia nervosa affects over one million males yearly, it is often misdiagnosed or overlooked by mental health and medical practitioners. This article brings the problem to the forefront and outlines features that are unique to these males. Greater recognition of the disorder can lead to more accurate diagnoses and, subsequently, better…

Considers research that shows very poor student understanding after the teaching of electricity and draws two broad conclusions of central relevance to the teaching of electricity: (1) there is an absence of any systemic consensus as to what models are appropriate for students at different year levels and for different intended learning outcomes;…

Explains the distinction between the concepts of melting and dissolving. (Contains 15 references.) (YDS)

Focuses on the overgeneralization of the linear model--the so-called illusion of linearity. Reports on two follow-up studies investigating the effects of problem presentation and formulation on the strength of the illusion of linearity. Shows that including visual scaffolds and making comparison problems has a positive effect on students' ability…