The achievement of deep learning by secondary students requires teaching approaches that draw students into task commitment, integrated curricula, and analytical thinking. By using real-world data sets in project based instructional units, teachers can guide students in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting quantitative data. Working with…

We developed a web-based tool to provide students with access to old exam problems and solutions. By controlling the order in which students saw the problems, as well as their access to solutions, we obtained data about student learning by studying old exam problems. Our data suggest that in general students learn from doing old exam problems, and…

Homework was optional during the first half of an engineering course but mandatory during the second half; test scores were higher during the second half. Discusses whether this can be attributed to the mandatory homework. (MLH)

Two important factors that influence problem solving are the nature of the task and the kind of knowledge brought to the problem by the solver. After a consideration of the definition of a problem, puzzle problems are discussed, as are problem representation and general processes of solution. Also discussed is the question of solving problems that…

The goal of this study was to find a way to quantify three criteria of representational quality, described by Greeno, so that it would be possible to examine statistically the relationship between representational quality and other variables related to problem solution. The sample consisted of 18 college students, 84 percent of whom had…

Describes the presence of high correlations between pooled scores on two test formats when administered to 170 students in an introductory physics course. Concludes the gradability of machine scorers is comparable to that of manual grading in this repeated-measures design. (CC)

Instructional materials used in two pilot studies are presented. Appendix A contains components of the problem-solving bulletin board. Eighteen problems are stated along with suggestions for solving each problem. Problems 1-10 contain questions extending the original problem. Teacher answer sheets are given for problems 4-18. Appendix B contains…

This analysis of 44 research studies concerned with word problems contains: (1) a brief overview; (2) 44 major findings and conclusions; (3) 64 suggestions and questions for further research; and (4) a reference list. The author suggests that the experimental research of the 1980s seemed to focus on the children, the instruction, and the word…

This study attempted to identify the things that help elementary school students solve verbal problems. Among the types of things included for examination were: the attributes of problems, the tools used, and the problem transformations that were possible. The summary of findings is comprised of 29 diverse types of statements grouped under four…

Youth were found to be responsive to a survey when asked for solutions to provocatively disruptive situations. The general purpose of this study was to determine whether these expressed solutions have some useful application to the problems of disruption. Description was measured through a situational survey and a self-description form filled out…

The effect on performance of different formats for typical mathematics story problems was studied, along with the relationship of certain learner variables. More than 1200 children in grades 3-8, including over 220 learning-disabled students, were tested and/or interviewed. Story problems were in the usual format found in textbooks, an abbreviated…