The purpose of this study was to identify the the factors that influenced pre-service teachers' perceptions of their abilities to solve structured physics problems. 1185 pre-service teachers from different disciplines, enrolled in physics courses in one Turkish University from 2008 to 2017 participated in a descriptive survey. The factors…

Information technology (IT) is transforming the world. Therefore, exposing students to computing at an early age is important. And, although computing is being introduced into schools, students from a low socio-economic status background still do not have such an opportunity. Furthermore, existing computing programs may need to be adjusted in…

For the forty-fourth time, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented online and onsite during the annual AECT Convention. Volume 1 contains papers dealing primarily with research and development topics. Papers dealing with…

This study investigated the impact of different modes of scaffolding on students who are learning science through a web-based collaborative inquiry project in authentic classroom settings and explored the interaction effects with students' characteristics. The intervention study aimed to improve "domain-specific knowledge" and "metacognitive…

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment that measures the performance of 15-year-olds in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. Coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization of 34 member countries, PISA was…

Discussed is the behavior displayed by good problem solvers of feeling free to restructure, revise, or redefine a problem. Examples of student work are included. (MNS)

Student characteristics of verbal ability, sex, socioeconomic status, educational expectation, and age were tested as predictive of students' ability to use evidence in testing statements and hypotheses. Of the five predictors, only verbal ability contributed significatly to prediction. (Author/DE)

Discusses whether and how computer programing courses can teach problem solving. Provides results of an integrated set of studies of middle school programing students whose problem solving skills increased in a programing class. Argues that "exemplary" instruction is more efficient than "typical" instruction. Examines the influence of students'…

Krutetskii's claim that good problem solvers differ from poor ones both with respect to solution performance and nature of their recall of problem information is supported by this study. The use of recalled information in the solution of related problems is also examined. (MP)

The study is described which examined quantitative and qualitative differences among learning disabled (LD) subgroups and between LD and normal Ss in reasoning and problem solving behaviors. The research strategy involved (1) detailed analyses of the behavior of subgroups of LD adolescents and of matched normal achieving adolescents in a task…

The designs, results, and conclusions of several related research studies which examine the role of student preferences in problem-solving strategies are summarized. Emphasis is upon the relationship between an individual's stated preference and his or her ability to implement this preference and successfully solve a related science task. Students…

This study explores assumptions about teacher motivations and why teachers choose one course of action rather than another in problematic situations. The question asked is: "What do teachers take into account when faced with such situations and how do they choose a line of action? Data sources include publications distributed by unions, district…

Common mathematical errors of pupils as identified by the Concepts in Secondary Mathematics and Science Project are identified and traced to the use of methods invented by students rather than formally taught methods. (MP)

A summer science camp was held in Korea for 30 ninth grade students gifted in science. Students were divided into three groups (physics, chemistry, and biology) for activities which included problem solving, brainstorming, and experimental work. The experiments of the physics group addressed the use of solar energy, the chemistry group focused on…

This is one of a series of reports summarizing the results of the second mathematics assessment conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Nine, 13- and 17-year-olds were assessed during the 1977-78 school year. The assessment measured achievement in various content areas at four levels of cognitive processes (knowledge,…