People often learn actions by watching others. The authors propose and test the hypothesis that perspective taking promotes encoding a hierarchical representation of an actor's goals and subgoals-a key process for observational learning. Observers segmented videos of an object assembly task into coarse and fine action units. They described what…

Discussed is the 1986 NAEP data on understanding and using basic science facts. Suggests using observing, measuring, and hypothesis testing as supplements to traditional instructional methods. The use of this technique is urged for Black, Hispanic, and female students to compensate for the lack of outside experiences noted in the NAEP findings.…