It's a trend that many countries over the world try their best to enhance General Education in order to actualize educational reform in higher education. This paper clarifies eight misapprehensions about General Education from its meaning, content and the relationship with Specialized Education in the hope of having correct understandings to…

Twelve linear algebra students were interviewed about the concept of a Solution of a System of Equations. The interviews were analyzed using APOS tools, in particular the ideas of Action, Process, Object and Schema, and Genetic Decomposition. The analysis of the interviews revealed several misconceptions of Solution. The analysis also revealed…

A longitudinal case study focused on the process of conceptual change in science of a young girl. The subject, the researcher's granddaughter, was 6 years and 6 months old and in first grade when the first of 19 hour-long sessions began. Sessions were spread over a two-year period. A concurrent case study was being conducted with the researcher's…

The study of chemistry includes many abstract concepts that students may find difficult to understand. A fundamental yet troublesome part of introductory chemistry courses is the topic of electron configuration and specifically quantum-mechanical orbitals. In an effort to examine the way students internalize the concept of atomic orbitals and how…

The purpose of this study is to examine one possible source of misconceptions that are held by students of genetics--the teachers. Is there evidence to suggest that prospective biology teachers might have misconceptions about genetics and related concepts? If prospective biology teachers have misconceptions in genetics, how do these misconceptions…

There is rarely a perception in colleges and universities that everyone owns the financial plan. Deans, department chairs, and division heads are most concerned with their own budgets, rather than the aggregate. Mythologies about how the academic and financial sides of the house operate create artificial divisions and compromise the development of…

Although most teachers are aware of documents identifying standards in their subject areas, few know about "external" standards documents or the standards movement as a whole. Despite impressive lists of content standards, U.S. educators lack direction due to four major problems: multiple documents, too much information, controversial content, and…

Aims to quantify the models that 13- and 14 year-old students hold about the causes of the greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion. Assesses the prevalence of those ideas that link the two phenomena. Twice as many students think that holes in the ozone layer cause the greenhouse effect than think the greenhouse effect causes ozone depletion.…

Argues that current testing of student understanding provides insufficient information to a researcher investigating strategies for changing students' explanatory ideas. Outlines a new test based on recent work in child development. (DDR)

Clifford Stoll's skeptical look at the computer mania besetting education raises issues about computerization and networking costs, the relationship between accessing information and becoming educated, and the role of human interaction in learning. By placing the computer before the curriculum, are proponents providing the best education possible…

Eric Hanushek's conclusion that money does not matter in public education is debatable. His latest meta-analysis reviews many articles from economics journals, while omitting several published in education journals. He finds no relationship between test results and spending, yet labels schools inefficient. In other research, the Annie Casey…

Presents strategies for encouraging dialog with students from eliciting preconceptions to bringing closure to a unit. Includes the general structure of an instructional unit that employs dialog, strategies for teachers to use, and strategies for students which include active listening. (DDR)

Two experts, Crawford Kilian and Clifford Stoll, disagree about the Internet's proper role in education. Kilian believes teachers must steer students through information "white water" to utilize the net more productively. Stoll thinks Internet will do little to resolve kids' reading deficiencies, restore music and art programs, or…

In the Spring 1995 "JLE" issue, Meredith and Underwood say conflict (over shrinking resources) is inevitable between regular and special education. This article disagrees. Even if special education costs were escalating as a percentage of all education costs, changes in funding systems are making educator wars less likely. In many…

Identifies four causes of the public's skeptical attitude toward public education and needed remedies. The news media must paint a more balanced picture of public education. Educators must explain what they are doing and engage the public in productive conversation. Civility must be returned to educational discourse. We must agree as a nation…