This study compared two techniques of teaching verbal problem solving. The consensus method is a commonly used decision-making strategy, while the expository (control) method is the most familiar teaching strategy for verbal problems. Two sets of sixth-grade students under two teachers were divided into treatment groups. Both sets of subjects were…

This study was designed to observe the effect of two basic variations of a film mediated model on teacher trainees' acquiring the technique of asking questions that require thought before being answered; it attempted to discover whether the subjects could best learn this technique by watching it illustrated by a filmed model, or by engaging in…

Investigated was the problem-solving ability of secondary school students as it related to their verbalization. Experimental treatment followed the students' demonstration of awareness of some mathematical concept. The four experimental groups included students who: (1) did not verbalize, (2) verbalized correctly, (3) verbalized incorrectly and…

The written simulation is a useful form of instruction in subject matter requiring problem solving and decision making and is also useful for evaluation of learner outcomes in areas where what is learned can best be measured by its use in problem solving and decision making. A number of criteria which stressed the perceived need for greater…

This study investigated differences in problem-solving performance following instruction varying in the type of heuristic advice given. The subjects, 176 college students with two years of high school mathematics experience, were provided programed instruction over a three-week period in three topic areas: finite geometry, Boolean algebra, and…

The aims of the study were to explore the effects of teaching heuristics in a calculus course and to generate hypotheses about related changes in heuristic usage and problem solving performance. Thirty college students in two classes participated and a Solomon four-group research design was used. Students from one group in each class were…

An address given by the Director-General of UNESCO is presented. The address had as its main focus the progress of the committee's literacy efforts throughout the world. It is pointed out that some 10 projects have been undertaken. The number of persons attending the literacy courses has risen from 5,500 to about 400,000 during the period 1967 to…

The purpose of this project was to develop new information and analyses that would contribute to development of a systematic understanding of cognitive structure, including its acquisition and utilization during problem solving. Experimental and theoretical work was done on three specific problems. (1) Studies of individual differences and effects…

The use of a problem-solving approach in teaching zoology is examined, especially in teaching the topic of insects in the seventh grade. (Author/ND)

Three approaches to teaching university-level creative problem-solving skills are described. (BD)

A small-group tutorial technique is described that develops creative thinking in students having difficulties in problem solving. (MP)

This announcement outlines a one-year project in the South Hackney School. Funded by the British Library for one year, the project is designed to collect and organize materials relating to community information sources, and to evaluate methods of teaching pupils how to retrieve and use such information in daily problem solving. (Author/JAB)

Undergraduate history students can gain insight into the historical process from a short exercise using copies of documents that give conflicting interpretations of the same event. Explains how to lead class discussions based on two letters about lawlessness in Arizona in the 1880s. (Author/AV)

A method of instruction in gynecology is described that encouraged the formulation of early diagnostic hypotheses, an important part of clinical problem-solving. Students were given a set of clinical clues to help them make broad diagnostic hypotheses. Student ability, results, and student perceptions of the course are provided. (Author/LBH)

Discusses the arousal system whose function makes cortical activity possible because it has become apparent that there is an optimal level of arousal for learning and cognitive functioning. Considers how this relates to the stimulus variation need in the classroom. (Author/RK)