Presents four primary objectives for written assignments. Describes the use of writing assignments in a college probability and statistics course. Maintains that this approach requires students to show statistical and writing skills rarely elicited elsewhere in their coursework. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the influence of harmonic context on the sight-singing skill of middle school choral music students. Finds that students in the melody-only treatment group showed more improvement in sight-singing than those in the vocal-harmony group. Also finds no differences between the melody-only and the piano-harmony groups. (CFR)

Examines grammar instruction as part of Montessori's language curriculum. Suggests that teaching grammar remains, without reason, a significant part of the curriculum. Grammar instruction offers children information about language, but that is not teaching language arts. Proposes the five language arts of listening, speaking, writing, reading, and…

Reports a study of teachers' and students' perceptions of effective teaching and learning in British secondary schools. Interviews indicated that students and teachers felt learning opportunities were heightened when using transactional teaching, and opportunities for transactional teaching were limited by the presence of certain conditions. (SM)

Describes a study that examined preschoolers' abilities to learn problem solving with LOGO, learn new strategies to use during problem solving, and transfer computer learning to other settings. Differences in the effectiveness of LOGO learning for field-dependent versus field-independent learning styles are discussed. (65 references) (LRW)

Offers LOGO as an environment that facilitates the development of cognitive strategies useful in problem solving. Presents LOGO activities requiring students to combine preprogramed procedures to produce worksheet patterns. Using this approach promotes using LOGO as a vehicle for problem solving and results in a more positive attitude toward LOGO.…

Students' experiences of revision were used to clarify the concept of understanding for 24 undergraduates through interviews describing the nature of their understanding and how it was reached. Contrasting forms of understanding were discovered. Implications for teaching and learning in higher education are discussed. (SLD)

Describes a method of teaching physics for mastery. The method includes writing assignments on journal sheets, discussions of major concepts by student teams, and individual mastery conferences using questions formulated around the results of the group discussions. Discusses the ramifications of using this method. (MDH)

Describes three activities that the teacher can employ to help students develop thinking skills through mathematics instruction: (1) memorization using the technique of chunking; (2) higher order thinking with magic squares; and (3) predicting games. Identifies eight facets of the teacher's role in promoting thinking skills. (MDH)

Examined is the wide range of statements of attainment in the National Curriculum that start with the phrase "be able to." A categorization of these statements is used to provide signposts for effective teaching and learning. The implications for in-service work and assessment arising from this categorization are considered. (KR)

Presents strategies to make planning-through-play activities a fun and integral part of the preschool developmental curriculum. Strategies are influenced by a Piagetian approach and an information processing approach that focuses on development of decision making. Specific suggestions are based on a model preschool program in Brookline,…

Compares performances of students on gas-law problems that require two distinct approaches, either the algorithmic technique or the conceptual gestalt. Indicates that student effectiveness is considerably different utilizing each approach and that training or experience with the algorithm process should not be expected to facilitate the…

Presents the template method developed by Galileo for calculating areas of geometric shapes constructed of uniform density and thickness. The method compares the weight of a shape of known area to the weight of a shape of unknown area. Applies this hands-on method to problems involving calculus, Pythagorean's theorem, and cycloids. (MDH)

Reports unique solutions given to five problems from individual students in mathematics courses for prospective elementary school teachers oriented toward problem solving. Concludes that such courses are feasible, promote problem-solving abilities and strategies, and develop appreciation and confidence in preservice teachers. (MDH)

Presents an experiment to examine the relative effects of cooperative groups versus independent practice in helping students encode problem-solving strategies into their long-term memory. Four classes of 126 prealgebra students were randomly assigned to employ the 2 methodologies. Students who practiced in cooperative groups demonstrated greater…