Below the surface of the ocean, currents, eddies, and other physical processes redistribute energy and biologically important elements. Measuring this transport can be challenging, and scientists must address a wide spectrum of oceanographic and engineering concepts when designing instruments to observe these processes. In this activity,…

The relative speed concept was chosen since it is linked with the relative nature of motion and it is likely that the students would harbor many alternative conceptions about it. The research objective was to identify the various ways students conceive relative motion. Qualitative data collected in various forms of representation received a…

A sample of grade 11 and 12 Canadian students (n>2000) responded to a national survey concerning the epistemology of science. Results revealed preconceptions held by students involving the nature of science, scientific assumptions, values in science, conceptual inventions, the scientific method, consensus making in science, and characteristics…