Introduces a collection of papers presented at a symposium on the situationally-specific character of problem-solving practices. Reports that findings provoke speculation about relations among social contexts, knowledge and activity, and relations between school-learned problem-solving techniques and those used in other settings. (KH)

Addresses the principles and problems associated with the use of significant figures. Explains uncertainty, the meaning of significant figures, the Simple Rule, the Three Rule, and the 1-5 Rule. Also provides examples of the Rules. (ML)

Presents concluding remarks to a symposium, "The Social Organization of Knowledge and Practice." Focuses on high aptitude of persons in everyday situations to solve problems and make decisions. Addresses three questions: (1) What happens when a problem-solver reaches a situation involving calculation? (2) How does learning transfer take place? and…

Reports examples of the behaviors, including kinetic and vocal, used to facilitate problem-solving based on observations of four seventh-grade students. Discusses the use of the behaviors in problem-solving teaching. (YP)

Using data collected in 1977-78, the Evaluation System has computed fall and spring mathematics scores on the Prescriptive Mathematics Test (PMT) for classes of students in grades one through six. In addition, relationships of performance on the PMT to class size, attendance, percent of males in the class, number of different test levels used in a…