Cognitive Studies of Science Learning

Cognitive studies constitute a core research area in science education at HBCSE. These studies have had a significant impact on curriculum development and practice of teacher education at the Centre and also, in the last few years, nationally.  Cognitive research at HBCSE has drawn from a range of field experiences within and outside the formal school system.  Current research has a strong academic base in the Graduate Courses which form part of  HBCSE's Ph.D. Programme in Science Education.  Ongoing projects are Visual and Spatial Learning and Refined Concept Mapping.

Publications

In Books

• Meena Kharatmal & Nagarjuna G.: Introducing rigor in concept maps.  In M. Croitoru, S. Ferre, and D. Lukose (Eds.), Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence: Vol. 6208. International Conference on Conceptual Structures 2010: From Information to Intelligence (p. 199-202). Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-14197-3_22

• J. Ramadas and M. Shayer: Schematic Representations in Optics, In P. Black and A. Lucas (Eds.), Children's Informal Ideas: Towards Construction of Working Theories, Routledge, London, 1993.

• J. Ramadas: Motion in children's Drawings, In I. Harel (Ed.), Constructionist Learning: A 5th Anniversary Collection of Papers, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1990.

In Journals

• Meena Kharatmal: Concept Mapping for Eliciting Students’ Understanding of Science. Indian Educational Review. 45(2), pp.31-43, 2009.

• A. Bardapurkar: “Do Students See the “Selection” in Organic Evolution? A Critical Review of the Causal Structure of Student Explanations”. Evolution: Education and Outreach 1 (3), 299-305, 2008.

• J. Ramadas: Lecture notes on Introduction to Cognitive Science (Antecedents) , Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Bombay, 2002.

• L. Kala and J. Ramadas: History and Philosophy of Science, Cognitive Science and Science Education: Issues at the Interface, Indian Educational Review, 37 (2), 2001.

• S. Chunawala, C. Natarajan and J. Ramadas: Students' Ideas about Living and Non-living: An Indian Cross-cultural Study, Proceedings of the 9th Symposium of the International Organization for Science and Technology Education (IOSTE) - Volume 1, Durban, South Africa, 1999.

• J. Ramadas et. Vidyarthyanchya Vidnyanavishayi Utsfoorta Kalpana: Ek Samshodhan Ahwal (In Marathi) (Students' Spontaneous Conceptions in Science: A Research Report), Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, Mumbai-1996b.

• J. Ramadas, S. Chunawala, C. Natarajan and S. Apte: Role of Experiments in School Science, Diagnosing Learning in Primary Science (DLIPS) Part-3, Technical Report No. 31, Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, Mumbai-1996a

• C. Natarajan, S. Chunawala, S. Apte and J. Ramadas: Students' Ideas about Plants, Diagnosing Learning in Primary Science (DLIPS) Part-2, Technical Report No. 30, Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, Mumbai, 1996.

• S. Chunawala, C. Natarajan, S. Apte and J. Ramadas: Students' Ideas about Living and Non-living, Diagnosing Learning in Primary Science (DLIPS) Part-1, Technical Report No. 29, Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, Mumbai, 1996

• J. Ramadas and U. R. Nair: The Systems Concept as a Tool in Understanding Ideas about the Digestive System, International Journal of Science Education, 18 (3), 355-68, 1996.

• J. Ramadas, S. Barve and A. Kumar: Alternative Conceptions in Galilean Relativity (III): Inertial and Non-inertial Frames International Journal of Science Education, 18 (5), 611-26, 1996.

• J. Ramadas , S. Barve and A. Kumar: Alternative Conceptions in Galilean Relativity (II): Distance, Time, Energy and Laws International Journal of Science Education, 18 (4), 463-78, 1996.

• J. Ramadas and D. Ploger: Understanding Mechanisms of Normal and Abnormal Digestion, Technical Report No. 28, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, 1996.

• S. Panse, J. Ramadas and A. Kumar: Alternative Conceptions in Galilean Relativity (I): Frames of Reference, International Journal of Science Education, 16 (1), 63-82, 1994.

• J. Ramadas: Cognitive Studies at HBCSE, Technical Report No. 21, Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, Bombay, 1993.

• J. Ramadas: Lecture notes on Human Cognition, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Bombay, 1992.

• J. Ramadas: Cognitive Issues in Science Learning, Proceedings of the Seminar on Language, Culture and Cognition, New Delhi, March 1992.

• J. Ramadas and R. Driver: Response to Martin Monk's Paper,`Genetic Epistemological Notes on Recent Research into Children's Understanding of Light, International Journal of Science Education, 14 (1), 123-126, 1992.

• J. Ramadas: Curriculum, Constructivism and Spontaneous Conceptions in Science, Paper presented at the 4^th All India Peoples' Science Network Conference, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Bombay, March 1990.

• J. Ramadas: Children Talk About Motion, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Bombay, December 1989.

• J. Ramadas and R. Driver: Aspects of Secondary Students' Ideas about Light, Centre for Studies in Science and Maths Education, University of Leeds, 1989.

• J. Ramadas and V. G. Kulkarni: Pupil Participation and Curriculum Relevance, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 19 (5), 357-365, 1982.

Special Issues

• J. Ramadas (2009): International Journal of Science Education Special Issue on ``Visual and Spatial Modes in Science Learning''.

• J. Ramadas (Ed.) (1997): Proceedings of the International Workshop on the Cognitive Bases of Learning (December 7-12, 1995), Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, Mumbai.

• Vivek, 9 (2), Quarterly on Artificial Intelligence, Special issue on ``Cognitive Bases of Learning'' National Centre for Software Technology, Mumbai, April 1996.

• Vivek, 8 (4), Quarterly on Artificial Intelligence, Special issue on ``Cognitive Bases of Learning'' National Centre for Software Technology, Mumbai, October 1995.

• Meena Kharatmal & Nagarjuna G. (2013): Representing Change Using Concept Maps. In G. Nagarjuna et.al. (Eds.) Proceedings of epiSTEME 5 -- International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education, p. 124-131. India: Cinnamonteal.

• Meena Kharatmal & Nagarjuna G. (2011):  An Analysis of Growth of Knowledge Based on Concepts and Predicates---A Preliminary Study. In S. Chunawala & M. Kharatmal (Eds.) Proceedings of epiSTEME 4 -- International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education, p. 144-149. India: Macmillan.

• Meena Kharatmal & G. Nagarjuna (2009): Refined Concept Maps for Science Education: A Feasibility Study   In K. Subramaniam & A. Majumdar (Eds.) epiSTEME 3 Third International Conference on Review of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education. Mumbai: MacMillan Publishers Ltd.

• Meena Kharatmal & G. Nagarjuna (2008): Exploring the Roots of Rigor: A Proposal of a Methodology for Analyzing the Conceptual Change from a Novice to an Expert  In A. Canas, P. Reiska, M. Ahlberg, J. Novak (Eds.) Concept Mapping: Connecting Educators. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Concept Mapping. Tallinn, Estonia & Helsinki, Finland.

• Meena Kharatmal & G. Nagarjuna (2007): An Alternative Proposal for Eliciting and Assessing Students’ Knowledge Structure  In C. Natarajan & B. Choksi (Eds.) epiSTEME 2 Second International Conference on Review of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education. Mumbai: MacMillan Publishers Ltd.

• Meena Kharatmal & Nagarjuna (2006): A Proposal To Refine Concept Mapping for Effective Science Learning  In A. Canas, J. Novak (Eds.) Concept Maps: Theory, Methodology, Technology. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Concept Mapping. San Jose, Costa Rica.

• Meena Kharatmal & G. Nagarjuna (2004): Understanding Science Through Knowledge Organizers In J. Ramadas & S. Chunawala (Eds.) epiSTEME 1 First International Conference on Review of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education. Mumbai: HBCSE.