A cognitive schema is a mechanism which allows an individual to organize her/his experiences in such a way that a new similar experience can easily be recognised and dealt with successfully. Well-structured schemas provide for the knowledge base for subsequent mathematical activities. A new experience can be assimilated into a previously existing…

The study examines the use of weblogs in teacher education internships and its impact on student stress levels, self-efficacy, and reflective abilities. One hundred and seventy-six student teachers were randomly assigned to five groups. Four groups used weblogs (a) with emotion-focused or with problem-focused writing assignments in combination (b)…

This study aimed to investigate the effect of conceptual change text (CCT) in the REACT strategy for students' conceptions of solutions. A quasi-experimental method was used in the study. The study was carried out in the spring term of the 2012-2013 academic year with 61 freshmen students (aged 18-20 years) studying in the Elementary Education…

This study examined the effect of a specific instructional approach called design teams on preservice teachers' attitudes toward technology, their technology skills, and their Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). In a design teams approach, participants work in collaborative teams to design solutions to solve real-world…

Problem-based learning (PBL) is widely endorsed as a desirable learning method, particularly in science. Especially in light of the method's heavy demand on resources, evidence-based practice is called for. Rigorous studies of the method's effectiveness, however, are scarce. In Study 1, college students enrolled in an elementary physics course…

The paper-and-pencil programming strategy (PPS) is a way of representing an idea logically by any representation that can be created using paper and pencil. It was developed for non-computer majors to improve their understanding and use of computational thinking and increase interest in learning computer science. A total of 110 non-majors in their…

This study examined preservice teachers' problem-solving skills through the use of an online video case study. Eighty preservice teachers participated in the study with a three-level video presentation by a two-grade-level between-subjects factorial design. The study incorporates a content analysis framework to examine both the components and the…

The purpose of this study was to explore word problems as a subject matter in mathematics textbook curricula. The motivation for the study derived from the following evidence: (a) American students find some word problems are more difficult than others (Garcia, Jimenez, & Hess, 2006; Riley & Green, 1988; Stern, 2001), and (b) one of the…

Compares the ability of students in Michigan (N=302) and Scotland (N=221) to do simple calculation exercises and relational/practical problems involving number and operation. Although this is not a controlled statistical study (data collected included birth date and sex), sample sizes are sufficient to make the reported results meaningful. (JN)

Computer-based problem-solving software exposure was compared to Lego TC LOGO instruction. Thirty fifth graders received either Lego LOGO instruction, which couples Lego building block activities with LOGO computer programming, or instruction with various problem-solving computer programs. Although both groups showed significant progress, the Lego…

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an innovative art education program that was piloted in two elementary schools in Wichita, Kansas in 1987. Two questions were addressed: (1) Does instruction in art by a qualified art teacher produce increased learning of the content of art? and (2) Does art instruction emphasizing thinking…

BASAL READING (BR) AND INDIVIDUALIZED READING (IR) METHODS OF TEACHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN TO READ WERE COMPARED TO DETERMINE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO SKILL IN CREATIVITY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING. TEACHERS (N 29) WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY. FIFTEEN TEACHERS WERE DIVIDED INTO A RANDOMLY ASSIGNED (RA) GROUP AND A TEACHER PREFERENCE…

A comparison of the Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) program with eight major goals for social studies identified in 1971 by the National Council for the Social Studies. USMES is weak in knowledge of a wider world, but is strong in real problem solving, cooperative efforts, and community involvement. (Author/AV)

Analyzes a classroom videotape of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) with a view toward current and future teaching practices. (Author)

Four K-12 studies and one for grades 3-4 considered which math topics could be taught most effectively with a hand-held calculator, which new mathematical topics could be successfully introduced when using such calculators, and what the implications might be for problem solving. (Author/LS)