These materials are the handouts for school administrators participating in RUPS (Research Utilizing Problem Solving) workshops. The purposes of the workshops are to develop skills for improving schools and to increase teamwork skills. The handouts correspond to the 16 subsets that make up the five-day workshop: (1) orientation; (2) identifying…

Presented are the skills needed for facilitating and linking. A role play experience provides the opportunities for issues and concerns to be made explicit. The role play process permits conflict points to be made explicit and to be specified in a psychologically safe context. Because the role play is "make believe," there is permission…

This activity is designed to help students recognize and extend rectangular patterns and to use patterning to formulate rules for "nth" cases. Three worksheets are included. (MNS)

This instructional module examines a key function of science and technology: problem solving. It studies the meaning of problem solving, looks at techniques for problem solving, examines case studies that exemplify the problem-solving approach, presents problems for the reader to solve, and provides a student self-quiz. (Author/CT)

License plates are used to give students experiences in solving problems, following directions, developing numeracy, and writing number sentences. Four activities for different levels are given on the four worksheets. (MNS)

The application of the Hamilton method for apportioning seats in the United States House of Representatives is presented based on the 1980 census. It is felt that this method is preferable to the equal proportion method currently used if for no other reason than the greater appearance of fairness. (MP)

A possible logical flaw based on similar triangles is discussed with the Sherlock Holmes mystery, "The Muskgrave Ritual." The possible flaw has to do with the need for two trees to have equal growth rates over a 250-year period in order for the solution presented to work. (MP)

Two kinds of secret writing, codes and ciphers, are discussed. The weakness of a ciphering system mentioned in the March 1981 issue is pointed out, and an alternate method is presented. Programs written in BASIC are presented which can be used to encipher messages and help break ciphers. (MP)

Five problems on the generation and study of prime and related numbers are discussed. Solutions to the problems posed will be in next month's presentation. (MP)

A discussion of the mathematics of rugby is related to an earlier article about mathematics and the physical world. (MP)

Activity requires secondary students to make an entrepreneurial decision concerning a conflict between long-term and short-term results. Students read a dilemma story involving an automobile manufacturer. They must write down positive and negative consequences for alternative decisions on a "Human Consequences Matrix" and an "Economic Consequences…

These three learning activities are on measuring accessible distances, designing a wind powered generator, and designing a hot dog heater using solar energy. Each activity includes description of context, objectives, list of materials and equipment, challenge to students, and evaluation questions. (SK)

This book of more than 160 environmental science activities is designed to help students understand environmental issues, ask questions, and find solutions to the problems. Introductory sections address: (1) the nature of major global problems and a history of environmental concern; (2) basic environmental science terminology and scientific study…

This document was written for junior and senior high school students to help them learn to cope more effectively with their problems. It is intended as a quide for helping adolescents explore and solve problems through constructive critical thinking. Ten steps in the process of constructive critical thinking are presented with personal and social…

The focus of this book is on a rationale and a set of strategies for problem generation in mathematics. Six chapters attempt to involve readers in the process of posing problems and in understanding why that process is important. Chapter 1 discusses two problem posing perspectives, while chapter 2 looks at the first phase of problem posing. The…