Newell and Simon's new theory of thinking is summarized and some educational implications developed. The enaction theory implies that thinking is a skill and should be taught like other skills, by teaching methods of how to perform it. The traditional theory of thinking and its influence are briefly discussed. (Author/MH)

A dialogue, in which one curriculum theorist tries to understand how another curriculum theorist teaches curriculum theory, is presented. The dialogue shares worthwhile approaches to teaching curriculum theory and explores assumptions that lie behind the problems of teaching curriculum theory. Implications evolving from the dialogue are discussed.…

Subjects (N=41) were randomly assigned to one of two groups defined by the teacher's clarity in a genetics lesson: low-clarity versus high-clarity. Subjects rated lesson presentation and completed a test on content. The high-clarity group perceived lessons as significantly clearer and achieved more than the low-clarity group. (DS)

This paper reports on an emerging technique that yields the kind of knowledge about cause-and-effect connections between teaching practices and student achievement on which teacher education should be based. That knowledge comes from the completion in recent studies of what has been termed the "descriptive-correlational-experimental loop."…

Audio-taped lectures by male or female professors were produced in four versions: no humor; sexual humor; other-disparaging humor; and self-disparaging humor. Male and female students rated lecturers' intelligence and appeal. Intelligence ratings were unaffected by humor variations, but significant lecturer-student sex interactions were found on…

Numerous criticisms have been directed at the effectiveness of the American public school system. Recent research on teaching effectiveness shows that teacher behavior and teaching style make an important difference to student learning. Proponents of educational reform should use research as a base for change. (JN)

Listed are seven devices which a teacher can use to measure his/her classroom skills in order to improve teaching effectiveness. Also included is a description of various teaching partnerships, and ideas for transferring the skills of teaching to other professions. (KC)

There are striking parallels between American schooling and American children's baseball. Coaches and teachers should talk to each other. Both would learn something about learning techniques and about dealing with children, and much about dealing with parents. (Author/SJL)

A British observational study of science classroom interactions was replicated in Atlantic Canada with 33 teacher-class units. Comparison of results revealed a less practical approach to science teaching in the Canadian classrooms, with greater emphasis on the informational aspects of science and convergent, problem-solving activities. (Editor/SJL)

When instructors are unable to finish their teaching contracts, new instructors can benefit from knowing the feelings and concerns of the students. This reports students reactions to the situation, and recommends such things as making clear requirements and grading policy, and clearly describing preferred teaching style.

This article describes Mr. Jewel's art history class--one of three art history classes whose curriculum organization, teaching methods, geographic range of materials, and level of content abstraction were studied using the educational criticism approach. Mr. Jewell's activities as a role model emerged as the major focus of this observation. (SJL)

The influence of selected teacher centers components on student academic achievement is examined. Differences in teacher self-ratings on effectiveness, teaching style, and use of teacher education resource materials are also examined across treatment groups. (JMF)

The teaching "case study" of an outstanding teacher who improved through participation in a teaching/learning research project is described. Data from the study show that students learned significantly more from him at the end of the project than they did at the beginning. (MLW)

Describes the work of Viktor Lowenfeld in developing creative art experiences for the handicapped, particularly using sculpture with the blind. The bulk of the article consists of excerpts from Lowenfeld's own writings, including a case study of his work with a deaf blind child. (SJL)

On the premise that "anxiety" and "achievement motivation" may be indicative of coping strategies, questionnaire measures of these traits plus academic tests were administered to 956 British pupils taught by teachers representing formal, informal, and mixed teaching styles. For part two of this study, classroom behavior, see AA…