One influential view of constructivism in science and mathematics educational research and practice is that of Ernst von Glasersfeld. It is a peculiarly subjectivist form of constructivism that should not be attractive to educators concerned with objectivity. Presents an example of a social constructivist alternative from pragmatic philosopher…

Argues for the inclusion of societal and moral values in science classrooms. The task for Malaysian science educators is to raise awareness of these values. Contains 40 references. (Author/PVD)

Presents a critical review of research on student conceptions of the Earth and its place in the universe with regard to epistemological, historical, and cognitive aspects. The Copernican model drives the research questioning about the position of the Earth in the universe with little correlation of the model with the empirical level of…

Examines some of the potential and some of the problems inherent in using computerized simulations in science and science studies classes by applying lessons from the epistemology of science. While computer simulations are useful pedagogical tools, they are not experiments and thus are of only limited utility as substitutes for actual…

Examines the influence of mathematics and science on the formation of culture and several definitions of liberal education. Explores the links between science, scientific culture, liberal education, and democracy and proposes that science be presented to students integrally with cultural studies. Recommends the use of a contextualist approach to…

Argues that science education and Christian education are not compatible if Christian education means teaching someone to be a Christian. Highlights the conflicts between the goals of science education and those of Christian education. Contains 21 references. (Author/JRH)

Highlights students' ideas about the particle model of matter and its use. Discusses the atomic model in teaching and the rules of the particle modeling game. Demonstrates how a complete understanding of the rules of the model construction yields guidelines for didactic practice. Focuses on problems connected with visual communication through…

Provides teachers with some ideas about the development of physical knowledge to make them more receptive to the differences between their own and their students' thinking. Illustrates an adapted version of Piaget's model of the growth of physical knowledge using the development of classical mechanics. Contains 12 references. (Author/JRH)

Analyzes the arithmetized geometry from a semantical point of view and compares it with classical synthetic exposition of school geometry. Also analyzes the didactical use of one particular system of arithmetized geometry--namely Pogorelov's system--in the Greek Lyceum. Contains 33 references. (Author/JRH)

Emphasizes the importance of integrating qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in science education. Reviews literature in areas relevant to science education to show that researchers are far from advocating qualitative research as the only methodology. Concludes that competition between divergent approaches to research would provide…

Discusses von Glasersfeld's view of constructivism in science and mathematics educational research and practice. Provides a social constructivist alternative to von Glaserfeld's subjectivist constructivism. Discusses the practical art of experimental construction and objectivity in science education. (Author/JRH)

Describes research conducted with student teachers of elementary and secondary science education. Analyzes and compares the preservice teachers' conceptions of science with their classroom practices when teaching a science lesson. Results indicate that there is no correspondence between student teacher conceptions of the nature of science and…

Describes the teaching and learning of chemistry in an Australian high school as it relates to the beliefs about the nature of science of a teacher and a class with the curriculum actually enacted. Although the teacher and students tended to view science as an evolving and changing discipline, the actual enacted curriculum was approached as a…

Illustrates how teachers designed new science learning environments based on research readings from science and technology studies and studied teaching and learning within these environments. Examples of students' science-related activities include videotaped laboratory activities, taped interviews, and student-produced artifacts collected over…

Part One presents empirical results of students' epistemological conceptions of laws, hypotheses, theories, and models. These results are discussed in relation to research results from different recent publications. Part Two gives an outline and analysis of a two-year program for teaching epistemology in a physics course. (AIM)