This article discusses application of Paul's (1992) elements of thought model in language arts curricula to provide students with the skills they need in order to analyze the world around them and manage the various types of issues and problems they encounter. Strategies for applying the model are described. (Contains references.) (CR)

An essay review of "Assessing Children's Mathematical Knowledge: Social Class, Sex and Problem Solving" by Barry Cooper and Mirad Dunne, Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2000; "Talking Mathematics in School: Studies in Teaching and Learning," Ed. Magdalene Lampert and Merrie L. Blunk, New York: Teachers College Press, 1998; "Reconstructing…

Increasingly, machine learning is entertained as a mechanism for improving the efficiency of planning systems. Research in this area has generated an impressive battery of techniques and a growing body of empirical successes. Unfortunately the formal properties of these systems are not well understood. This is highlighted by a growing corpus of…

This study reviews the literature regarding the theoretical rationale for creating a computer-based school system simulation for educational leaders' use in problem solving and decision making. Like all social systems, educational systems are so complex that individuals are hard-pressed to consider all interrelated parts as a totality. A…

A conditions-based approach to the development of microlevel organizational strategies for instruction is explored. The conditions model reflects the idea that differences in learning tasks, primarily qualitative differences in the cognitive processing required of different learning tasks, can suggest different ways by which instruction can either…

Guidelines to facilitate the assessment and development of educational leadership decision-making skills are presented in this paper. Included are a review of traditional and contemporary concepts of the decision-making process, identification of appropriate techniques, and an analysis of four contemporary decision-making models by Thompson,…

In brainstorming a group attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas spontaneously contributed by members. Brainstorming is recommended when the generation of ideas will be beneficial to the solution of problems. Four fundamental rules of brainstorming include: (1) criticism is not allowed during the thinking…

Before a course to improve basic reasoning skills can be intelligently designed, it will be necessary to determine the exact nature of those skills. Research indicates that: (1) reasoning skills are highly specific, not generalized; (2) a large number of different reasoning skills exist; (3) many reasoning skills are language dependent and widely…

Presented are abstracts and abstractors' analyses of four studies dealing with cognitive development, four studies dealing with attitudes, and two studies dealing with problem-solving. The cognitive development studies are: "College Chemistry and Piaget: The Relationship of Aptitude and Achievement Measures" (David Bender and Louis…

In the history of small group studies (in the field of communication theory and research), two factors contributed to the changes that led to Ernest Bormann publishing in 1970 his work questioning the value of the knowledge being reported and the appropriateness of the methods by which it was being generated. First, prior to 1965, a limited amount…

Cognitive theories of problem solving and suggestions made by cognitive psychologists regarding how to teach problem solving are reviewed. Theories and suggestions from creativity research are also considered. The results are summarized in terms of a description of how high levels of proficiency in problem solving are acquired and how problem…

This study examined problem solving as a function of display type (table/graph) and numeric function (linear/nonlinear) in four problem solving domains. Twenty-two stimulus problems were developed, and line graph and table displays were constructed for each problem. Half of the displays contained linear numeric functions and the other half…

This paper briefly reviews some of the literature on the use of visual imagery in the conceptualization and solution of mathematical problems, especially its use in the learning of mathematics by children, and notes that a mutually facilitative effect occurs between mathematics and visual aptitude. A bibliography, a short list of resource…

Case studies of four principals and their "problem-finding" behavior (identifying and solving strategic organizational problems) are presented to illustrate their roles and effectiveness in providing instructional leadership. (CB)

Discussion of the history and development of artificial intelligence (AI) highlights a bibliography of introductory books on various aspects of AI, including AI programing; problem solving; automated reasoning; game playing; natural language; expert systems; machine learning; robotics and vision; critics of AI; and representative software. (LRW)