The development of a student's ability to make data-driven decisions has become a focus in higher education (Schield 1999; Stephenson and Caravello 2007). Data literacy, the ability to understand and use data to effectively inform decisions, is a fundamental component of information competence (Mandinach and Gummer 2013; Stephenson and Caravello,…

This commentary highlights important contributions of four empirical investigations of how people sort through the masses of information that are now available to them and find what they need to solve some problem or make some decision. These studies demonstrate the impact of differences among information sources and the role that these…

In his paper, Michael Merry poses an interesting and important question: How can we navigate between two often opposing interests--that of protecting the welfare of our society's children and that of protecting their liberties by avoiding paternalism? While Merry lays out his argument with clarity and insight into the risks and harm that state…

A recent literature review by Smith and Boling (2009) critically examines the received view of instructional design in educational technology. Smith and Boling conclude that the foundational literature characterizes design in a way that leads to a constrained understanding of design, especially by novices. They suggest that as a field we move…

This article presents the authors' response to Asha K. Jitendra's Response to Xin and Zhang ("The Journal of Educational Research," 2009, Vol. 102, No. 6). The claim of "factual errors, including inappropriate quotes, misrepresentation of information, and inadequate scholarship in Xin and Zhang's text" are not justified. In this rejoinder, the…

In this article, the author talks about building resilience--that ability to push through hardship to success, to rebound from failure, and to "keep on keepin' on" when things seem impossible. The author assert that lots of gifted and talented kids need help building their resilience. In today's world, when striving for mediocrity can…

This invited commentary includes observations about the article "Building Local Capacity for Training and Coaching Data-Based Problem Solving with Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Teams," published in the July 2011 issue of the "Journal of Applied School Psychology." In this article Newton and colleagues present an interesting field…

If American young learners are to become effective participants in a democratic society, then social studies must be an essential part of the curriculum in each of the elementary years. The purpose of elementary school social studies is to enable students to understand, participate in, and make informed decisions about their world. Social studies…

Responds to Heppner and Krauskopf's article on an information processing approach to personal problem solving by presenting shortcomings in the approach, notably its failure to fully exploit the available information processing concepts to reconceptualize personal problem solving specifically or counseling in general. Nonetheless, sees the…

Distance education has numerous inherent philosophies to utilize in teaching-learning situation. The problem solving aspect of distance learning encourages active involvement by students in teaching-learning situations; student selection of content; teachers as guides and motivators of student learning; ordering of learning experiences in terms of…

Two ways of communication in the problem solving process of evaluation are described. In Model I, the theory-in-use is governed by "win, de-emphasize negative feelings, and be rational." This leads to strategies of protect yourself, protect others, and control the situation and the task. These strategies result in mistrust,…

Responds to Heppner and Krauskopf's article on an information processing approach to personal problem solving. Presents a four-point summary model of problem solving and examines what information processing adds to the area of problem solving. (NB)

A four-component model for career decision-making counseling relates each component to assessment questions and appropriate intervention strategies. The components are (1) conceptualization (definition of the problem); (2) enlargement of response repertoire (generation of alternatives); (3) identification of discriminative stimuli (consequences of…

The introduction from a soon-to-be published book on the concept of visioneering -- engineering a vision into reality -- is printed here. The article discusses the creative process, its historical and research background, the use of creative problem solving in approaching challenges and making decisions, and the current language of creativity.…

A modified Delphi Technique can be used to reach consensus in decision making and conflict resolution. Such an approach was used in the Paramus (New Jersey) Public Schools to resolve a conflict between principals and a committee of parents, students, and specialists concerning a program for gifted and talented students. (Author/MLF)