This report of an ongoing research project intended to provide computer assistance to Army units for the scheduling of training focuses on the feasibility of simulated annealing, a heuristic approach for solving scheduling problems. Following an executive summary and brief introduction, the document is divided into three sections. First, the Army…

In general, people seem to be poor at noticing analogies, especially when they are required to apply an analogy to a domain that is new. It was suspected that schemas influence the noticing and applying of analogies. Schemas are hypothesized to be abstract propositional structures that emphasize relationships among categories of objects rather…

Research has not clearly determined whether memory development in childhood and adulthood can be accounted for by the age variation of cognitive processes other than memory. To examine this issue, a study was conducted based on a model of structures and processes in complex information processing. Subjects (N=162) were presented with two lists of…

Described in the context of a computer simulation are highlights of a program of research focusing on the storage of mathematics problem solving information in young children's memory and the development of such knowledge structures in older children. Specifically discussed are the problem size effect, the network nature of the memory…

When children with Down's syndrome and normally developing children of comparable mental age were compared in their ability to find things they saw in a mirror, it was found that the ability of children with Down's syndrome paralleled that of normally developing children, but that motivational, attentional, and exploratory differences may exist.…

Results of 120 studies were combined by meta-analysis to determine effects on mathematics test performance of factors other than knowledge of content. Conditions that enhanced performance included testwiseness training, praise, word problem pictures, and frequent testing. Conditions depressing or not affecting performance were also noted. (MNS)

Describes the Training Effectiveness Algorithm, a systematic procedure for identifying the cause of reported training problems which was developed for use in the U.S. Navy. A two-step review by subject matter experts is explained, and applications of the algorithm to other organizations and training systems are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Gifted secondary students not only solved problems better, faster, and with less assistance than average pupils, but also processed information in a different fashion. (MNS)

The mental activities involving functions were studied with 60 children aged 4-15. Search strategies used for solving a problem reveal different stages toward the discovery of the monotonic property, which correspond to stages of proportional reasoning found by Piaget. Dependence between stage and age is confirmed. (Author/MNS)

Reviews factors leading to the successful implementation of the Instructional Systems Development (ISD) Model and derives implications for the design of an ISD users training program. Military and civilian ISD models are discussed, and recommendations for further research and development are given. Seventy-eight references are listed. (LRW)

This description of the development of expert systems designed to solve management problems focuses on the issue of corporate divestment as an example. Software needs are discussed, and an example of a management expert system for divestment analysis at James Madison University is briefly described. (Author/LRW)

This study involved 48 students ages 9 to 12. The 29 experimental group students, divided into small groups, performed learning exercises designed to improve skills in analyzing and processing expressions frequently included in addition and multiplication problems. The exercises helped significantly to improve problem-solving performance. (MNS)

Review of existing research on the general cognitive outcomes of Logo training concludes there is little data-based or empirical evidence on the effects of teaching Logo to children. It is suggested that current research on Logo should be more directly tied to outcomes related to learning a structured computer language. (MBR)

Included are a general introduction to the topic of metacognition, a discussion of how metacognition is involved in mathematical performance, and a short section on metacognition and instruction. (MNS)

Examines the relationship between development of logical processes required in deductive reasoning and their use by preschoolers, also considering possible explanations for children's deductive reasoning. The relationship of problem content to real-world knowledge and the sequence of presentation of problem types were found to affect the display…