Examines current literature on the pedagogy of counseling. The authors offer a critique of current counselor education practices and suggest constructivist methods for educating reflective practitioners. (Author)

Before and after formal instruction, 140 elementary school children answered questions designed to elicit their concept of structural stability. A three-year follow-up showed they tended to retain useful ideas and discard those less useful over time. Their information sources included external as well as school experiences. (SK)

This study with 22 adults with mild to moderate mental retardation examined the nature of knowledge structures in this population as well as effects of presentation methods and response methods on ability to classify items. Results indicated major effects for disability severity, insignificant findings for presentation method, and a trend toward…

Evaluates concept maps (n=36) spontaneously constructed by applicants in a medical school entrance examination for content of relevant terms and the number of interrelationships indicated. Finds that merely including the relevant concepts in a map has little effect on the comprehension of those concepts, but map complexity is strongly related to…

A longitudinal study examined the role of a mapping system in 2-year olds' learning of color and size words. Results indicated that the children acquired color maps in a characteristic order and showed a different acquisition pattern for size words. Results suggest that learning word associations may promote color-word acquisition; learning color…

Argues that realist researchers regard serendipitous events in research with suspicion, resulting in the lack of analysis of the role of serendipity in the generation of research ideas. Analyzes the significance and impact of serendipity in the process of a case study. Deliberates the problematic nature of constructing research stories. (DSK)

Investigates the concepts of ratio and proportion constructed by grade 9 students by investigating their proportional reasoning schemes and procedures on three types of tasks: missing value, numerical comparison, and qualitative reasoning. Indicates that students frequently used additive reasoning--that is, a comparison of two numbers by…

Explains that hypermedia tools may be developed for case and problem-centered learning in order to achieve significant learning outcomes, such as deep conceptual understanding, conceptual change, and knowledge transfer. (Author/CCM)

Reports on research into children's understanding of mountainous landscapes and mountain genesis as revealed in their drawing and modeling representations and in subsequent interviews. Compares younger and older children aged 7-11 from United Kingdom inner city schools. Concludes that the interpretation of children's pictures is problematic and…

Details a lesson that utilizes trigonometric identities to determine the optimal angle between the atoms of covalent bonds. Generates a proof of the optimal angle for a molecule with four identical atoms bonded to a central atom that has a complete valence shell. (DDR)

Describes a course that focuses on the practice of science as it is done by professionals in specific disciplines and offers opportunities to communicate the connections and relationships among the scientific disciplines. (DDR)

Details a study of secondary science teachers (N=8) and their questioning strategies. Identifies and describes commonly used teacher responses to student questions in the secondary science classroom. Contains 39 references. (DDR)

Examines the reactions of freshman engineering graphics students to an interactive multimedia computer compact disk. The disk is used in conjunction with a textbook and a student survey is used to assess reactions to the material. Results indicate that the material helped in understanding the course material. (DDR)

Explores the use of a constructivist approach to enable students to examine what causes the seasons. Describes an activity based on a multiple choice question and includes a summary organized using a learning cycle. (DDR)

Presents a classroom technique designed to aid student understanding of science that involves a flow chart of the scientific method. Affords a conceptual framework for organizing many research concepts taught in introductory science classes. Contains 19 references. (DDR)