Presents guidelines for developing computer-assisted instructional materials that are based on theoretical instructional theories, including behaviorism; neobehaviorism (imitation and modeling); information processing; cognitive psychology; and learning styles. Guidelines highlight feedback and reinforcement, practice opportunities, sequencing,…

Describes study designed to examine the effects of textual and/or computer animated orienting strategies and practice on rule-using and problem-solving skills of elementary school students using computer-assisted instruction. Four different versions of a lesson based on Isaac Newton's Law of Motion are described, and results are analyzed. (28…

Teachers' actions are thought to produce certain types of student thinking. To devise effective inservice programs, educators must understand four learning principles and five thinking dimensions enabling students to develop positive learning attitudes and acquire, integrate, and extend their knowledge. A new "curriculum" of preservice…

Reports on the assessment of student thinking in the area of commitment to the laws of conservation of matter and energy during a study of conceptual change among introductory chemistry students. States four conditions upon which strategies for conceptual change are based. (RT)

Children's magical explanations and beliefs were investigated in two studies. Found that many four-year olds view magic as a plausible mechanism, yet reserve magical explanations for certain real world events that violate their causal expectations. Parents and culture at large may at first actively support magical beliefs whereas peers and schools…

Describes the use of the writing-across-the-curriculum approach in a college psychology course. Reports on a study of the effect of summary writing exercises on 16 students. Finds that participating student scores on the final examination were eight percent higher than nonparticipating students. (CFR)

Describes how a mathematics teacher's knowledge level can be supported or justified by a criterion different from test scores of teacher's students, namely the ability of the teacher to justify teaching practices by appealing to concurrent learning method. Two examples are provided that formalize theoretical justifications as practical arguments…

Insights from both cognitive psychology and learning disabilities intervention research are presented to improve understanding of the processes by which number fact fluency develops. Discussion includes assessment guidelines and learning strategies such as counting all, counting on, and alternative groupings. (Author/JDD)

This paper outlines a model of cognitive functioning and remedial direction, based upon an information integration approach and work in neuropsychology. The approach, used primarily with low-achieving and learning-disabled students, utilizes "bridging tasks" which are paired with specific global cognitive tasks to promote generalization…

An Assimilative Base Model is presented and related to the improvement of instruction in writing for learning-disabled and other children. The model, based on Piagetian theory, involves three interchange processes: automatic skill development; puzzlement leading to reorganization of relationships; and strategy development leading to enrichment of…

Challenged is the traditional model for the transmission of mathematics in the elementary school classroom. An inquiry approach to learning mathematics is proposed and supported with results of a year long research project that exposed second graders to mathematical learning experiences using this approach. (MDH)

Beginning geometry students misunderstand the requirements of formal proof because of confusion between deductive reasoning and argumentation. Presented is a cognitive analysis of deductive organization versus argumentative organization of reasoning and the applications of this analysis to learning. Implications of a study analyzing students'…

Discusses metacognition and offers strategies for developing metacognitive behaviors that can be used in school library resource centers. Topics discussed include thinking processes; problem solving; student journals or learning logs; student planning and self-regulation; closure activities for evaluation; self-evaluation; and shared planning…

Utilizes the psychological and sociocultural components of a constructivist paradigm to provide a detailed analysis of how the cognitive constructions students make as they enumerate 3D arrays of cubes develop and change in an inquiry-based, problem-centered mathematics classroom. Describes the classroom work of three pairs of 5th-grade students…

Describes an experience using a computer simulation on air resistance. There appeared to be differences in how students approach learning in interactive physics learning environments with and without the simulation. (Contains over 20 references.) (Author/WRM)