Several trends and directions are identified for preparation of gifted and talented youth for leadership roles in a rapidly changing society: experience in predicting, planning, and extrapolating; explicit leadership training; development of thinking skills; experience in problem finding and problem solving; and study of major concepts, themes,…

Outlines the evolution of thinking and the development of materials related to the biological component of the Science Education Project. Examines the context of the project within Southern African society and its relationship to curriculum development theory. Discusses possible models for the dissemination of knowledge. (RT)

The psychological and methodological bases of the Agassi teaching method are described to provide a context for evaluating the theory. A brief history of Selzian psychology and Popper's methodology is given. The Agassi method, which stresses learning through questioning, is detailed. (JL)

Provides information on (1) a general indication of change in the cognitive structure of students associated with chemical comprehension; (2) the comparison of clusters of concepts; and (3) a graphical representation of the links among concepts. Argues that constrained word associations serve as a useful tool for mapping aspects of cognitive…

Examined capacity to generate solutions to cope with stressful events and strategies used to cope with interpersonal and academic stressors among 130 middle school students. Found subjects consistent in generation and use of problem- and emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused alternatives generated and used were negatively related and…

Discusses the development and field testing of a prototype genetics tutor program for microcomputers written in Turbo Pascal. A preliminary field test with undergraduates is described that was used as formative evaluation, and suggestions are given for designing a more effective tutor that uses additional intelligent computer-assisted instruction…

Describes eight experiments involving the use of common consumer products that could be incorporated into quantitative and instrumental analysis laboratories. Discusses these activities in terms of illustration of principles, awareness, and critical thinking. (CW)

Assigned subjects as groups or individuals to communicator role in Prisoner's Dilemma. Also assigned conciliatory, tough, or individualistic styles to subjects in representing constituents in the interaction. Conciliatory style was successful in all-conciliatory groups. Conciliatory members of mixed groups were unsuccessful in moderating their…

Explored cognitive-behavioral interventions with families in which child abuse had been committed or parents were at risk for such behavior, to alleviate parental anger in the face of perceived provocation by children. Used cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, problem solving, and composite of the three techniques. Anger measures were…

Examines the way bureaucratic practices and background or schematized knowledge can influence physician-patient and physician-physician interaction and language in medical diagnostic reasoning. Provides a case study that illustrates the bureaucratic processes presupposed in the production and reproduction of knowledge in practical scientific…

Examines some of the assumptions associated with attempts to define the "engineering method." Critiques a previously stated definition of this method, and offers an alternative definition that attempts to include the ideas put forth in the previous definition. Discusses the use of engineering heuristics in both definitions. (TW)

Described are differences in the mathematical problem-solving performance of third-grade gifted and fifth-grade average students observed during an eight-week period. Results indicate that attitudes, motivation, and belief systems were important to performance. There were major differences in problem-solving behavior between boys and girls.…

Reports on a study in which two spatial tests were given to science and engineering majors and to students in nursing and agriculture at Purdue University (Indiana). Scores from the tests consistently contributed a small but significant amount of success on measures of performance in chemistry. (TW)

Abstracts of seven selected papers from the 7th Annual Microcomputers in Education Conference are presented. Papers are included on microcomputer-based labs, teaching science with robots, microcomputer software, problem solving, computer integrated math activities, and computer assisted mathematics. (RH)

Reports on the status of environmental studies programs, as determined at a workshop held in conjunction with the 1986 annual conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education. Focuses on environmental studies program development since 1976. (TW)