Four students (ages 8-11) with mild mental retardation used an animated tutorial computer program to learn mathematical problem solving. Results indicated that all students obtained significant gains from pretest to posttest and had positive attitudes toward computers after training. Transfer of the problem-solving skills to paper-and-pencil…

Suggests that involving Russian experts in solving concrete educational problems and providing curriculum development in the United States could be very useful. A primary goal would be to change the attitudes and beliefs of teachers and to extend teachers' views on teaching mathematics. (AIM)

Describes a project combining precalculus and transition mathematics students focusing on popcorn by comparing popping ratios of different brands of popcorn and finding what size box could hold the most popped corn. Project design required group effort and cooperation. Students exhibited growth of positive attitudes toward the study of mathematics…

Describes a successful course in mathematical biology at Dartmouth College. The course targets premedical students and biology majors rather than mathematics majors, and requires only one semester of calculus as prerequisite. Real world problems form the basis of student work. (Author/KHR)

The time may be ripe for the fields of mathematics education, special education, and cognitive psychology to converge, with their respective focuses on mathematical problem solving, individual differences among students, and analysis of cognitive processes. Four articles on learning disabilities in mathematics are introduced, and a research agenda…

Interviewed 59 2nd- and 44 3rd-year elementary school students concerning their solutions to arithmetic problems commensurate with their age and ability. The results indicate that as children progress through school, they continue to use counting as an important part of their problem-solving repertoire, combining counting skills in idiosyncratic…

In this article, constructivism is examined as an epistemological basis for school science and mathematics instruction. The nature and process of constructing scientific and mathematical knowledge in school settings is also considered. A distinction is made between truth and feasibility, and the implications for science education are discussed.…

This article describes "Thinking Actively in a Social Context," a multiphase model to assist in the development of problem-solving courses based on student needs and experiences. An example of such an interdisciplinary course (simulating a new settlement on another planet) for high ability children in grades five, six, and seven is detailed. (DB)

Examined differences in cognitive and metacognitive processes of 40 high- and low-mathematics-ability students in grade 12 as they solved 5 everyday mathematics problems. Competence in problem solving was characterized by a rich knowledge base, metacognitive strategies, and confidence. Boys and girls exhibited different cognitive structures for…

Examined the development of proportional reasoning by means of a temperature mixture task. Results show the importance of distinguishing between intuitive knowledge and formal computational knowledge of proportional concepts. Provides a new perspective on the relation of intuitive and computational knowledge during development. (GLR)

Describes a study that was designed to investigate the relationship between certain features of interactive video design and the deployment and development of cognitive problem-solving skills. Middle school mathematics students used for the study are described, the use of videotapes and interviews is discussed, and group dynamics are examined. (26…

A study demonstrated that the problem-solving ability of 45 first grade, Hispanic, bilingual children was related to the semantic structures of word problems in a similar manner for both of the children's languages and in a manner similar to that of monolingual speakers. (Author/LB)

Discusses the use of a historical profile for illustrating the significance of the mathematical components of scientific laws. Addresses the need for the purposive use of scientific laws rather than the blind substitutionary procedures characteristic of most problem solvers. Claims the approach has the potential for increasing female participation…

Mismatch between gesture and speech was used to study cognitive processes that characterize the transition between incorrect, but rule-governed, problem understanding to correct rule-governed understanding among 90 fourth graders in Chicago (Illinois). Data support the idea that the transitional state is characterized by concurrent activation of…

Argues that the correct use of positive and negative signs in textbooks is often ignored and that this misuse might be because the authors are unaware of some basic rules. (DDR)