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Learning fundamental geoscience topics such as plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes requires students to develop a deep understanding of the conceptual models geologists use when describing the structure and dynamics of Earth's interior. Despite the importance of these mental models underlying much of the undergraduate geoscience curriculum, surprisingly little research related to this complex idea exists in the discipline-based science education research literature. To better understand non-science-majoring undergraduates' conceptual models of Earth's interior, student-generated drawings and interviews were used to probe student understanding of the Earth. Ninety-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with non-science-major college students at the beginning of an entry-level geology course at a large Midwestern university. Students were asked to draw a picture of Earth's interior and provide think-aloud explanations of their drawings. The results reveal that students hold a wide range of alternative conceptions about Earth, with only a small fraction having scientifically accurate ideas. Students' understandings ranged from conceptualizing Earth's interior as consisting of horizontal layers of rock and dirt, to more sophisticated views with Earth's interior being composed of concentric layers with unique physical and chemical characteristics. Processes occurring within Earth, such as "convection," were rarely mentioned or explained. These results provide a first-steps basis from which to further explore college students' thinking and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on earth science teaching and geoscience education research.

Although multiple studies of misconceptions in Earth science have been completed using samples of North American and European students and teachers, little research has been conducted on alternative Earth science conceptions in developing countries. The current study was conducted in 5th- and 6th-grade classrooms in eastern Honduras, Central America. The goal of the study was to gather data documenting Honduran students' conceptions of the Earth's interior. This qualitative study used participant-generated drawings and interviews to access students' conceptions of the Earth's interior. Results suggest that Honduran students, ages 9-14 y, express varying levels of understanding regarding this science concept. Many exhibit alternative conceptions, including nonconcentric layers in the Earth; the presence of physical objects, such as houses, inside the Earth; and the existence of mythical creatures within the Earth. This study provides data relevant to geoscience education in Honduras, has implications for geoscience education in tectonically active regions where Earth science is not a major part of the curriculum, and offers suggestions for teaching abstract Earth science concepts to concrete learners. The study also provides information for educators that teach students who are recent immigrants from Honduras and for those who teach students of limited language and/or reading proficiency.

The overarching goal of this study is to examine what is considered most important regarding the depth, breadth and content of space science concepts as reflected in current national science education standards and science curricula in Taiwan and the US. Major findings of this study conclude that many skills and concepts articulated in the standards in both countries are similar, although the structure of the standards is not the same; most space science content is addressed more specifically for a smaller grade span in Taiwan's standards than in the US standards; and "Insights" (an elementary science curriculum in the US) exhibits greater learner self-direction but expects students to comprehend more concepts in about the same amount of time as does the Taiwanese curriculum. Differences in these two curricula could be attributed to the varied content expectations for different clusters of grade span in the science standards. While the US is developing the Next Generation Science Standards, the findings of this study shed light on students' performance expectations in science in different countries, which in turn helps direct focus to areas of science education requiring significant attention, such as science standards, curriculum, and textbook development through international benchmarking. (Contains 5 tables.)

The overarching goal of this study is to examine what is considered most important regarding the depth, breadth and content of space science concepts as reflected in current national science education standards and science curricula in Taiwan and the US. Major findings of this study conclude that many skills and concepts articulated in the standards in both countries are similar, although the structure of the standards is not the same; most space science content is addressed more specifically for a smaller grade span in Taiwan's standards than in the US standards; and 'Insights' (an elementary science curriculum in the US) exhibits greater learner self-direction but expects students to comprehend more concepts in about the same amount of time as does the Taiwanese curriculum. Differences in these two curricula could be attributed to the varied content expectations for different clusters of grade span in the science standards. While the US is developing the Next Generation Science Standards, the findings of this study shed light on students' performance expectations in science in different countries, which in turn helps direct focus to areas of science education requiring significant attention, such as science standards, curriculum, and textbook development through international benchmarking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]