Focuses on identifying the educational effects of "activity oriented" instructional techniques. Examines which instructional methods produce enhanced learning and comprehension. Discusses the problem of learning "sorting algorithms," a major topic in every Computer Science curriculum. Presents a low-tech, hands-on teaching method for sorting…

Describes an informal research activity in which third grade students invent their own algorithms for multidigit multiplication and division. Discusses teaching implications and action research ideas. (ASK)

The purpose of this investigation was to identify and describe the differences in the methods used by experts (university chemistry professors) and nonscience major introductory chemistry students, enrolled in a course at the university level, to solve paired algorithmic and conceptual problems. Of the 180 students involved, the problem-solving…

This review of the literature and annotated bibliography summarizes the available research relating to teaching programming to high school students. It is noted that, while the process of programming a computer could be broken down into five steps--problem definition, algorithm design, code writing, debugging, and documentation--current research…

Developing learning-teaching procedures is only possible if one knows the internal processes to be formed. Two 'psycho-logical' models and activity algorithms for foreign language teaching are discussed. Construction of such operational models for grammatical action has a high diagnostic value for research and development in FL teaching. See FL…

PRELIMINARY DATA FROM FIVE LECTURES UTILIZING PROGRAMED TEXTS AND FEEDBACK TO VERIFY KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT, DEMONSTRATE THE SUPERIORITY OF PROGRAMED INSTRUCTION FOR VOLUME OF MATERIAL ASSIMILATED AND TEACHING ALGORITHMS. THIS ARTICLE WAS TRANSLATED FROM "VESTNIK VYSSHEV SHKOLY," MOSCOW, VOLUME 21, NUMBER 7, 1963, AND IS AVAILABLE FROM…

This study, part of an instructional development project, explores the effects of three different representations of functional algorithms in an introductory chemistry laboratory. Intact classes were randomly assigned to a flowchart, list, or standard prose representation of the procedures (algorithms). At the completion of 11 laboratory sessions,…

This study investigated the effects of the nature of the algorithm, reinforcement, and level of problem difficulty on the ability of fourth graders to solve addition problems as measured by the number of problems correctly solved and the number of columns attempted. Subjects were selected for high scores on a test of basic addition facts; only…

An introduction to the theory of algorithms reviews the theoretical issues of teaching algorithms, the logical and psychological problems of devising algorithms of identification, and the selection of efficient algorithms; and then relates all of these to the classroom teaching process. It also descirbes some major research on the effectiveness of…

Ten nursery school children who knew how to count but were unacquainted with arithmetic were taught a simple algorithm for solving single-digit addition problems and were then given extended practice. The reaction time on the final block of extended practice suggested that subjects had invented a more efficient procedure to replace the original…

The author develops a four-stage model for concept-internalization. The stages are: (1) concrete structure; (2) linguistic structure; (3) algorithm; and (4) mastery. The model is related to teaching methods and the teaching of long division is examined in detail. (SD)

The author argues that children not only can but should create their own computational algorithms and that the teacher's role is "merely" to help. How children in grades K-3 add and subtract is the focus of this article. Grouping, directionality, and exchange are highlighted. (MNS)

Some concrete examples of the use of historical materials in developing certain topics from precalculus and calculus are presented. Ideas which can be introduced with a reformulated curriculum are discussed in five areas: algorithms, combinatorics, logarithms, trigonometry, and mathematical models. (MNS)

Presents a developmental taxonomy which promotes sequencing activities to enhance the potential of matching these activities with learner needs and readiness, suggesting that the order commonly found in the classroom needs to be inverted. The proposed taxonomy (story, skill, and algorithm) involves problem-solving emphasis in the classroom. (JN)

This 1998 yearbook aims to stimulate and answer questions that all educators of mathematics need to consider to adapt school mathematics for the 21st century. The papers included in this book cover a wide variety of topics, including student-invented algorithms, the assessment of such algorithms, algorithms from history and other cultures, ways…