In "On the Desirability of Own-Group Preference" (1993), Michael L. Penn, Stanley O. Gaines, and Layli Phillips argue that misguided and mythical ideal of racial-social integration in America is the only reasonable and effective foundation for real African empowerment in American society. Serious intellectual battle will be required to…

States that because of the widespread concern about weight, social workers need to understand the difference between fact and myth. Counters many of the weight myths and examines the cultural, social, biological, and psychological factors to be considered when assessing clients who are considered obese. Presents a framework for developing an…

Expands on earlier work to examine pre-service teachers' views on environmental issues, especially global warming and the related term "greenhouse effect." Suggests that pre-service elementary teachers hold many misconceptions about environmental issues. (DDR)

Presents results of an exam designed to uncover misconceptions about molecular shape and bonding based on the VSEPR model. Results are reported for high school students, beginning and advanced undergraduate students, beginning and advanced graduate students, and college-chemistry faculty. Finds that students seem to acquire both recall and…

Considers assumptions implicit within Western science-education research and practices. Argues that Western science underpins science teaching and that other world views are not foregrounded. Claims that the notion of "alternative views" positions knowledge construction in other cultures in ways that do not permit different world views or…

Reports on the extent to which the Principle of Relativity was employed by students when dealing with various phenomena. Concludes that the Principle of Relativity is not used as an heuristic tool in students' answers, and that the situations presented were not regarded as "problematic" by the students, who primarily used interpretive…

Describes experiences with holding discussions on cloning at a variety of levels in undergraduate biology courses. Discusses teaching methods used and student reactions to the discussions. Contains 12 references. (WRM)

Summarizes how a group of teachers prepared a series of elementary-level inquiry experiences that focused on the study of land snails. Recommends and describes the K-W-L and Four Question inquiry strategies for younger and older students respectively. (WRM)

Presents an overview of the goals of the MindWorks program for science curriculum development. The project hopes to address student motivation, student understanding of the structure and workings of the physical world, and students' and teachers' ideas about the process and culture of scientific activity. Also discusses the progress of pilot…

Contends that the large vocabulary used for precise purposes in physics contains many words that have related but potentially confusing meanings in everyday usage. Analyzes the treatment of Newton's Laws of Motion in several well-known introductory textbooks for evidence of inconsistent language use. Makes teaching suggestions. (Contains 11…

A study of 17 charter schools in 10 California districts concludes that these schools have not lived up to the assumptions propelling them. Charters fell short on accountability, administrative autonomy, funding efficiency, choice and admissions, infusion of competition, and instructional innovation. Public school educators claim charters are…

Information technology is a cost-effective investment in public schools only with innovations in pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, and school organization. This article examines the impracticality of equipping every student with high performance computing and communication and proposes a "distributed learning" model, orchestrating…

Identifies the conceptions of energy of preservice high school biology teachers. Findings indicate that this group of preservice teachers holds alternate conceptual frameworks when describing physical situations. Contains 35 references. (DDR)

The dilemma of what to do with children who do not progress "normally" is not new, and did not arise because educators grew too timid to uphold academic standards. The problem is an unavoidable consequence of compulsory education. Advantages of social promotion still outweigh difficulties. Deterioration of school standards cannot be blamed on…

Integrates findings from qualitative and quantitative research in conceptual change that investigated text and text-based strategies. Emphasizes findings that have direct implications for instructional research and practice: (1) refutational text is not sufficient to produce conceptual change; (2) discussion of refutational text must be…