This paper reports a research practice of engaging middle school students to be multimedia designers using a project-based learning approach. Specifically, it addresses two questions: whether a learner-as-multimedia-designer environment can increase middle school students' motivation toward learning; and whether the middle school students'…

This volume brings together the majority of lectures and papers presented at the 1998 and 1999 discourse symposia at Vaxjo University. Part one, "Four Perspectives on Discourse," offers a matrix perspective on narrative, a cross cultural perspective on academic rhetoric, a cognitive perspective on informational discourse, and a construction…

Examining some of the cognitive tools accompanying development of oral language in young children--tools that are somewhat suppressed with literacy development--can lead to educational principles that transcend the traditional focus on either the knowledge base or the child's mind. Of particular importance are the use of stories to give affective…

We studied experts' solving methods and analyzed the nature of mathematical knowledge as well as their efficiency in algebraic calculations. We constructed a model of the experts cognitive functioning (notably teachers) in which the observed automatisms were modeled in terms of schemes and instruments. Mathematical justification of transformation…

How self-esteem is related to social environment and the elastic-plastic processing of mindies was studied in students aged 13 to 16 years. A "mindy" is a unit process of the mind constructed through using a mental shape. Subjects were 12 students aged 13, 31 students aged 14, 31 aged 15, and 6 aged 16 at a secondary comprehensive school…

This paper describes subjectivism, a new learning paradigm that incorporates successful pedagogic practices from the past into an affect-structured constructivism. Its two goals are student empowerment and subject enculturation. Student empowerment is achieved by designing learning for success so students can take credit for and feel confidence…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of the teachers' teaching practices through a collaborative action research project. The researcher and eight elementary science teachers established a collaborative relationship. The Constructivist Rationale and Teaching Model was introduced to the participant elementary science teachers.…

This paper explains the importance of inferencing to effective communication, discussing how it is achieved and focusing on English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) education. Part 1, "Background," examines clues provided by speakers and writers, also looking at clues and thinking processes used by listeners and readers in order for successful…

This volume explores the academic issue: what is knowledge and what gives it its authority. The book makes three related points: (1) colleges and universities must think of themselves not as stores of knowledge but as institutions of reacculturation; (2) college and university professors must view themselves not as purveyors of information but as…

This study assessed Chinese teachers' perspectives on why Chinese students perform well on spatial tasks. The study interviewed 17 male and 12 female teachers of Chinese language, math, science, and 6 other subjects, from elementary schools, high schools, and colleges of Beijing, China. The responses indicated that the Chinese teachers perceived…

This study examined the extent to which selected high school academic variables and noncognitive characteristics of American College Testing (ACT)--tested students explain differential test performance of racial/ethnic and gender groups. Of particular interest was the extent to which the noncognitive variables, over and above course work taken,…

Science now offers new conceptions of the learning process and the development of competent performance. This book presents a contemporary account of principles of learning, and calls into question concepts and practices commonly used in schools. Topics explored include how learning actually changes the physical structure of the brain, the effect…

Examined relationship between cognitive requirements of two chapters of a physics textbook for biology/pre-med students and their ability to use prerequisite reasoning skills required for its understanding. An average of 42 percent of students tested did not consistently use reasoning skills required to understand text concepts. Discusses tests…

The object of this study was to specify the relationship between logical and numerical structures by examining the processes used by operational and preoperational children in solving simple addition and subtraction problems. (MP)

Fifty-six fifth- and sixth-grade children, manifesting depressive symptoms as judged by teachers and in response to a self-report depression battery, were assigned to one of four intervention conditions: role play, cognitive restructuring, attention placebo, or control. Most improvements were observed in the role-play treatment. (Author/CTM)