Describes an intelligent tutoring system designed to help students remedy misconceptions of physics concepts based on a teaching strategy called bridging analogies. Highlights include tutoring strategies; misconceptions in science education; the example situation network; confidence checking; formative evaluation with college students, including…

Discusses a study designed to understand 11th-grade students' learning during conversations with their teacher over and about a computer-based Newtonian microworld, Interactive Physics. Illustrates that students' learning was not local but persistent, in that they used appropriate canonical science talk without teacher support. (36 references)…

Describes the importance of estimation in science for planning projects, conducting experiments, and developing theories. Defines order of magnitude. Provides explicit mathematical equations and calculations to estimate answers for seven provocative physics problems. Includes nine additional open-ended problems with hints and solutions. (PR)

Nine articles discuss research on cooperative learning with computers and how student interactions at the computer facilitate learning. Current research on cooperative learning methods and computer-assisted learning; and microcomputer-based group problem solving, social-cognitive behaviors, higher order thinking, interdependence, autonomy,…

Investigates the difficulties that college students (n=83) have in reading and comprehending physics texts. Students were taught the skill of formulating clear questions on textual material. The strategy stimulated students' awareness of the difficulties in reading comprehension and could be used by students as a self-monitoring technique to…

Calculates an approximation to Avagadro's number for one mole of water by assuming the mole to be in cubical form and then halving the cube three times, thereby doubling the surface area of the original cube. The calculations are derived from the work necessary to perform these divisions. Presents calculated values for several liquids. (MDH)

Presents an outdoor experiment to measure the speed of sound as a classroom experience to begin the teaching year. Measures the delay time from seeing and hearing crashing cymbals across a field to calculate the speed. Exposes students to experimental uncertainties and limits of uncertainty in measurement. (MDH)

Presents a problem to determine conditions under which two identical masses, constrained to move along two perpendicular wires, would collide when positioned on the wires and released with no initial velocity. Offers a solution that utilizes the position of the center of mass and a computer simulation of the phenomenon. (MDH)

The changes that have taken place in laboratory safety in the past two decades are examined. The way in which the United Kingdom's Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is just now starting to have effect is described. The responsibility of teachers for the health and safety of their students is discussed. (KR)

Explains how a spreadsheet can be an effective modeling and simulation tool for studying electrical circuits. Highlights include Kirchoff's rules and matrices algebra; a pilot experiment with preservice teacher education students in a physics class; the teacher's role; student attitudes; curricular aspects; and the effectiveness of the spreadsheet…

Describes a study of high school students that investigated students' responses to an anomaly generated by the juxtaposition of opposing explanatory frameworks and examined the nature and impact of cognitive conflict as students moved from prescientific to scientific explanatory frameworks concerning the concept of force. (19 references)…

Describes a survey of physics and physical science teachers in Iowa that was conducted to determine their use of microcomputers. Availability of computers and types of software used are examined, frequency of use and access to computer laboratories are investigated, and results are compared with those from earlier surveys. (seven references) (LRW)

The value of incorporating the haptic mode into the science curriculum and expanding "hands-on experience" to "total-body experience" are discussed. The pedagogical implications of the role of movement in cognitive development are described. (KR)

This study of 905 academically talented students (ages 12-16) who completed a 1-year course in high school biology, chemistry, or physics in a 3-week summer program found that the fast-paced courses effectively prepared subjects to accelerate in science and that talented students could begin high school sciences earlier than generally allowed.…

Describes an inexpensive spectrum projector that makes high-dispersion, high-efficiency diffraction gratings using a holographic process. Discusses classroom applications such as transmission spectra, absorption spectra, reflection characteristics of materials, color mixing, florescence and phosphorescence, and break up spectral colors. (MDH)