Elizabeth C. Knight left the suburbs to major in English at Boston University. Knight currently lives in New York City and works for an afterschool program that deals primarily with inner city youth. Having grown up in an affluent neighborhood, Knight dispels many of the myths centered around growing up in beautiful, safe, wealthy suburbs, saying…

Discusses the concept of time management and its value in the small or one-person library. Some misconceptions about time management are considered, and continuing education is recommended for librarians to learn time management skills. (MES)

Modern technology in life and health sciences brings a new understanding to the study of cells and as a result, the National Science Education Standards emphasize understanding of science and technology. This ERIC Digest describes the central role of cell biology (cytology) in understanding these areas and explains conceptual difficulties and…

In this paper seventh-grade pupils' ways of handling aspects of probability have been investigated. The aspects in question were embedded in a dice game, based on the total of two dice. Four different set-ups of dice were included in the situation in which they were up to explore optimal strategies for winning the game. How children understand…

This paper describes features of a group of misconceptions about decimal notation that lead to students selecting as larger, decimals that look smaller. A longitudinal study identified approximately 900 students from a variety of schools who exhibited these misconceptions and whose subsequent progress could be traced. The data demonstrates that…

Research indicates that students have great difficulty solving certain algebra word problems. These solutions, moreover, appear to be due to some situational factors characteristic of algebra problems, e.g., presentation and response format. This study investigates students' preconceptions, post facto alternative concepts based on key features of…

This book is designed to help teachers bolster their content knowledge by focusing on specific science concepts regarding the topic of light. The book covers three scientific models of light and discusses the observations that can be explained by each model. Chapters include: (1) "LightN-The Early Years"; (2) "Colorful Waves"; (3) "Focus, People,…

Junior level secondary students (n=500) in Botswana and Lesotho responded to a questionnaire to paint a picture of student perceptions of science and technology. The attitudes of the students toward the two subjects and the impact they have had on everyday life were congruent with the philosophical goals of the science and technology syllabuses of…

Describes a study designed to assess students' understanding and acceptance of the credibility of the scientific evidence supporting evolution. Discusses results and implications and offers thoughtful advice to professors on how to ameliorate the divisiveness resulting from this controversy. (DKM)

Discusses the implications that technology may have for education in developed countries and developing worlds. Concludes that, to address these issues, educators must not fear technology nor be awed by it. (DKM)

Calculates average tenure of superintendents in 25 major cities since 1900. Superintendents' length of service has been decreasing, but not as precipitously as the press proclaims. A complex mix of environmental, local, and professional factors is responsible. The 1990 average of 5.76 years raises questions concerning the relationship of…

While education reform reports indicted public schools for failing today's youth and economy, the revisionists, a group of eminent scholars, challenged their assumptions and produced empirical evidence showing that the education crisis was manufactured. The public ignored these arguments. Reform reports affirmed people's (misguided) belief that…

Discussion groups of 100 teachers, 55 parents, 12 principals, and 40 students; survey responses from 50 parents, and interviews with 15 community members revealed positive attitudes about volunteer involvement in a school district, frustrations about limited time for volunteer coordination, and lack of support structure. Common school assumptions…

Discusses results of a survey of 42 randomly selected parents who had chosen kindergarten programs in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Respondents' decisions raise concerns about equity and quality and challenge assumptions that parents want choice and will use parent information centers to gather performance data. If choice is introduced without…

Investigates the effectiveness of combining conceptual change text and concept mapping strategies on students' understanding of diffusion and osmosis. Results indicate that while the average percentage of students in the experimental group holding a scientifically correct view rose, the percentage of correct responses in the control group…