Provided is a teacher's guide for a problem-solving activity that establishes a link between number patterns and geometry by focusing on the development of recurrence relations established when generating central polygonal numbers. Reproducible worksheets and a 3.0 BASIC program for the activity are given. (MDH)

The impact of personalizing mathematical word problems and rewording them for explicitness was tested with 68 second and 59 fifth graders. Second graders benefited from personalization and rewording in combination; fifth graders benefited from personalization, not rewording. Personalization makes problems more motivating and easier to represent…

Researchers developed an analysis system to evaluate teachers' classroom cases, hypothesizing that the way teachers defined and ordered the standard components of narratives would reflect their pedagogical beliefs. Inservice and preservice teachers wrote four case narratives. Self-evident differences emerged between groups in the structural and…

Presents a series of 13 activities to explore the mathematics of baseball. Activities examine the numerical measures of player statistics and team standings and the geometry of baseball. Discusses the use of computer spreadsheets and LOGO computer simulations to study the concepts embodied in the activities. (MDH)

Describes a program developed at City University of New York (CUNY) Medical School that was designed to facilitate learning and retention of difficult concepts and principles in first-year biology and chemistry courses. Topics addressed include small group interaction, cooperative learning, mastery learning, interactive technology, and information…

A study evaluated 35 research projects from 1970-92 comparing problem-based learning in medical and nursing education with more traditional methods of instruction. It was found that results generally supported the superiority of the problem-based learning approach for both affective outcomes and academic performance. (Author/MSE)

Describes three activities to teach mathematical concepts involving probabilities related to outcomes using "Sicherman" and other dice; geometric representations of algebraic identities; and the volume of a cone. (MDH)

Recently developed multidimensional-scaling methodology was used to explore the underlying structure of moral reasoning responses to 12 moral dilemmas by 111 graduate students in law and social work and to relate that structure to individual differences. Results indicate that moral reasoning must be viewed from multidimensional and interactional…

Presents an exciting way to acquaint students with current methods to clean up oil spills. Students also have the freedom to create new clean-up methods as they think through the problem and experiment to find effective solutions. (PR)

A University of South Carolina program provides marine science students with learning opportunities that merge research and undergraduate study. In three semesters, students mastered complex scientific concepts and important professional skills such as critical and independent thinking, teamwork, and problem solving. Student/faculty and…

Examines two sets of classrooms in Mexican preschools over a period of a year to see why one set of classes improved significantly in independent problem solving when compared with children in matching classes. Differences in two sets of data were explored with a method for investigating classroom talk that combines qualitative interpretation with…

Reviews the traditional definition of practical work in science, offers a different definition of it, and points out that practical work is not always laboratory based. Discusses the logistics of coordinating fieldwork. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Explores commonalities and differences between the Reggio Emilia approach and the developmentally appropriate approach. Points to differences in eight areas: (1) scheduling; (2) grouping children for activities; (3) planning; (4) teacher attitudes; (5) products of work and play; (7) parent conferences; and (8) continuity. (BGC)

Investigated the impact of Professional Development School (PDS) activities on elementary student writing and mathematics achievement (using collaborative teacher research) after 2 years of school and university researcher participation, describing processes and outcomes of two PDS writing and mathematics skills programs. Focus group interviews…

Describes a course created for preservice elementary teachers entitled "Discovering Chemistry with Lab" which covers basic principles of chemistry and their applications in daily life. The course promotes reasoning and problem-solving skills by utilizing computer-based technologies and hands-on, discovery/guided-inquiry and…