Problem solving theory and practice suggest that thinking is more important to solving problems than knowledge and that it is possible to teach thinking in situations where little or no knowledge of the problem is needed. Such an assumption has led problem solving advocates to champion "content-less heuristics" as the primary element of problem…

Guided by Belsky's and Eisenberg, Cumberland, and Spinrad's heuristic models, we tested a process model with hypothesized paths from parents' effortful control (EC) and family chaos to indices of parenting to children's EC, and finally children's externalizing problem behavior. Parents reported on all constructs and children (N = 188; M age = 9.55…

In this commentary, the author addresses what is referred to as the deterministic input, noisy "and" gate (DINA) model. The author mentions concerns with how this model has been formulated and presented. In particular, the author points out that there is a lack of recognition of the confounding of profiles that generally arises and then discusses…

Rupp and Templin (2008) do a good job at describing the ever expanding landscape of Diagnostic Classification Models (DCM). In many ways, their review article clearly points to some of the questions that need to be answered before DCMs can become part of the psychometric practitioners toolkit. Apart from the issues mentioned in this article that…

We explore how two community-based reform models align with the World Bank's "World Development Report 2004" accountability framework. Using a qualitative case study of rural Guatemalan primary schools, we examine local governance through interviews with a range of stakeholders. While both reforms appear appropriate according to the…

The Student Study Team (SST) is a school site team which involves parents, students, and teachers working together to assist regular education students who are not progressing satisfactorily. The SST model aims to increase positive outcomes for students; improve the quality and efficiency of meetings; and increase personal satisfaction levels for…

Findings of a study that determined the ways in which practicing administrative course developers utilize instructional design activities in their design projects are presented in this paper. A survey was administered to 30 participants in a training and development group within a large organization and mailed to 43 other practicing instructional…

Educators are encouraged in this document to practice a multi-disciplinary approach in the classroom to prepare students for new management styles in an interrelated society. The first section on perceptions covers the following: information processing (planning, implementing, assessing); the learning process (exploration, invention, application);…

This document presents a first approximation for a model for student performance in solving linear equations. First, characteristics of a model of student performance for solving linear equations is discussed. It is noted that there is a need for some theoretical structure to support and organize the bits and pieces of information provided by…

The growth of individuals participating in community problem solving activities within a rural setting was the focus of this study. Using grounded theory methodology, data was obtained from literature, interviews with participants in four rural community problem solving groups, and one participant-observation study of a rural community problem…

A procedural model, designed to assist practitioners in working with students with learning problems, targets three stages of the diagnostic-prescriptive teaching process: (1) defining the problem; (2) assessing potentially causal mismatches between child, task, and setting; and (3) intervening by eliminating or minimizing mismatches. (Author/CB)

In the study, a part of longitudinal research focused on the emergence of mathematical knowledge structures in a learner's mind is presented. It concentrates on the analysis of introspective data gained from the author's study of a non-standard arithmetic structure in terms of the model of abstraction in context (Hershkowitz, Schwarz and Dreyfus).…

Presents a model of crisis intervention counseling which outlines a professionally appropriate and realistic structure for effectively treating adolescent suicidal patients and their families. Discusses primary goals of the initial, intervention, and termination sessions which help adolescents communicate their emotional conflicts to their…

Presents a model for solving genetics problems when problem statements include information on which alleles are dominant/recessive and on what forms of a trait are coded for by the alleles. Includes procedural steps employed in a solution and conceptual knowledge of genetics/meiosis allowing students to justify what they have done. (Author/JN)

The role of technology throughout history and its relationship to science is discussed. The new frontier of societal technology is considered in terms of human behavior and misbehavior in the face of conflict. (SA)