Bringing together a wide collection of ideas, reviews, analyses and new
research on particulate and structural concepts of matter, Concepts of
Matter in Science Education informs practice from pre-school through
graduate school learning and teaching and aims to inspire progress in
science education. The expert contributors offer a range of reviews and
critical analyses of related literature and in-depth analysis of
specific issues, as well as new research. Among the themes covered are
learning progressions for teaching a particle model of matter, the
mental models of both students and teachers of the particulate nature of
matter, educational technology, chemical reactions and chemical
phenomena, chemical structure and bonding, quantum chemistry and the
history and philosophy of science relating to the particulate nature of
matter. The book will benefit a wide audience including classroom
practitioners and student teachers at every educational level, teacher
educators and researchers in science education.
"If gaining the precise meaning in particulate terms of what is solid,
what is liquid, and that air is a gas, were that simple, we would not be
confronted with another book which, while suggesting new approaches to
teaching these topics, confirms they are still very difficult for
students to learn".
Peter Fensham, Emeritus Professor Monash University, Adjunct Professor
QUT
(from the foreword to this book)
