The authors investigated whether the amount of instructional guidance affects science learning and self-efficacy. Sixty 9- and 10-year-old children were randomly assigned to one of the following three instructional conditions: (a) guided instruction consisting of examples and student-generated explanations, (b) direct instruction consisting of a…

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO TEST (1) THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A WAY OF THINKING ABOUT PROBLEMS AND (2) THE EFFECTS OF INTRODUCING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE LOGIC OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING. THE STUDY HAD TWO OBJECTIVES (1) TO TEACH THE PROCESS OF SEARCH FOR AN ANSWER AND (2) TO TEACH THE LOGICAL STRUCTURE OF IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES. TEACHING…

Findings reveal that students who are skillful in perceptual restructuring attain significantly higher mean achievement scores in science, in knowledge of science, and in the ability to apply what has been learned in unfamiliar contexts than students with low structuring ability. (Author/MA)

This article describes a summer program for high school graduates planning to enter college and major in mathematics, or natural or health sciences. The program is Piagetian-based and designed to assist the students in preparing for problem solving in college by providing multidisciplinary concrete experiences in science and mathematics. (SA)