Suggests that Public Law 99-457 raises questions about the play of children with special needs. Discusses topics which include (1) the developmental nature of play; (2) play of special needs children; (3) strategies for teaching play skills, and (4) implications of research for teachers' practice. A direct approach to teaching children about…

Four class activities for French language instruction are described, including a crossword puzzle exercise emphasizing French culture, use of films for developing a variety of language skills, techniques for helping students discuss others' ideas, and an exercise promoting discussion through photographs of older adults engaged in various…

Six case studies were conducted on the use of business games and simulations in higher education. Results showed that cognitive learning was greatly affected by particular approaches of students; competitiveness tends to have a negative effect on cognitive gains; and learning is enhanced by advance briefing and tutor involvement during the game.…

Presented is the solution to the problem of calculating the probability of winning or losing a game played by moving a counter from the center of a hexagonal grid according to the number shown after the toss of a die. The exercise is an example of an interesting mathematical investigation. (MDH)

Discusses the effect of children's outdoor play on their learning, the promotion of children's development by their playing of games which they have invented, and suggestions for adults to encourage children to invent outdoor games. (BC)

Reports that the absence of a normative training document is a central principle of the former USSR's Tallinn School of Management. Identifies five common blocks of instructional improvisation: writing a business letter; communication; taking and maintaining control; production and operation management; and product distribution. Describes some of…

This activity book includes across-the-curriculum activities with Olympic themes; a "cooperation relay" (four competitive team activities based on a cooperative learning model); highlights of African Americans' Olympic achievements; a poster on teamwork and activities based on the theme of keeping the Olympic torch alive; and a…

Describes projects at the University of Central Florida to test new training technologies under controlled but realistic settings. Original plans for an "Experimental Prototyping Classroom" are discussed; and current developments in language training research, gaming technology, and virtual environments are described. (EAM)

A total of 87 children, 3- to 7-years old, were examined in a study of children's play and reasoning in games of mathematical logic and social logic. Children's sophistication in reasoning was positively related for two games, suggesting a common three-level progression from mastery of procedures to a competitive attitude to advanced strategy. (SH)

Five teachers recommend their favorite elementary teaching tools, including a counting board, a keyboard introduction game, geoboards for the overhead projector, a book on crafts using recyclables, tape recorders, computerized games, interlink cubes, a geology book, videotaped sentence structure games, and a solar calculator for use on overhead…

Presented is a class activity, modeled after the game of bingo, which can provide a review of mathematics skills through constructive use of the last few minutes of a class period. Introduced are examples suitable for both middle school and high school mathematics classes. (JJK)

Provides ideas to help parents determine whether their children are spending too much time with electronic media, noting children learn both good and bad from every device they use. Parents are encouraged to offer their children interest, support, and suggestions for alternate ways to spend their time. (SM)

A study was designed to determine psychological complexity and reinforcement characteristics of popular arcade video games, including sex differences in game content, clientele social structure, human-to-human interaction contingencies, and value content. Results suggest a need for public control of children's access to the games and the video…

The "Game of Decisions" is presented to encourage students to consider the consequences of banning books and/or ideas. The game involves story writing, creating probability graphs, writing a letter protesting censorship from a chosen historical period, and examining a controversial science issue. Three thesis statements for generating group…

Two articles examine athletics in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The first discusses the disintegration of the Soviet sport system following the Soviet Union's breakup. The second examines the future of CIS athletics which, it is claimed, may never again reach the stature achieved by the Soviet Union. (SM)