The objective of this study was to construct a teaching strategy for facilitating students' conceptual understanding of the boiling concept. The study is based on 52 freshman students in the primary science education department. Students' ideas were elicited by a test consisting of nine questions. Conceptual change strategy was designed based on…

The objectives of this study are: (a) Evaluate science major freshman students' ability to differentiate between heat energy and temperature, after having studied the topic of thermochemistry; (b) ascertain the degree to which students resist change from the caloric to the kinetic-molecular theory; (c) study the ability to differentiate between…

Recent research in science education has recognized the importance of history and philosophy of science. The objective of this study is to evaluate the presentation of the Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr models of the atom in general physics textbooks based on criteria derived from history and philosophy of science. Forty-one general physics…

Describes a study that used a teaching strategy based on two teaching experiments which could facilitate students' conceptual understanding of electrochemistry. Involves two sections (n=29 and n=28) of 10th grade high school students in Venezuela. Concludes that the teaching experiments facilitated student understanding of electrochemistry.…

Analyzes (n=32) Brazilian secondary school students' interactions (conflicts, controversies, and arguments) as they participate in an intact 9th grade classroom activity designed to facilitate their understanding of heat energy and temperature. Reports that the differentiation between heat energy and temperature constitutes considerable…

Illustrates how a novel problem of chemical equilibrium based on a closely related sequence of items can facilitate students' conceptual understanding. Students were presented with a chemical reaction in equilibrium to which a reactant was added as an external effect. Three studies were conducted to assess alternative conceptions. (Author/SAH)

Examines the role of empirical evidence in the interpretation of psychological and epistemological aspects of Piagetian theory. Concludes that Galileo's method of idealization has important implications for the construction of a neo-Piagetian epistemological theory. Contains 35 references. (Author/WRM)

Investigates reasoning strategies students use in solving stoichiometric problems and explores the relation between these strategies and alternative conceptions, prior knowledge, and cognitive variables. Results show how stoichiometric relations produce conflicting situations for students leading to conceptual misunderstanding of certain concepts.…