The article discusses ways to make mathematics instruction with learning-disabled and other children more developmentally appropriate by building on children's informal understandings in active purposeful learning, using less direct instruction and paper-and-pencil work. Ideas are applied to the teaching of fractions. Instructional materials are…

Examines Piaget's theory of disequilibration as the tension and subsequent growth caused when new information must be assimilated or accommodated to fit one's view of reality. Indicates ways Christian religious educators can use the concept of disequilibration to understand adolescents' emotional and cognitive growth. Suggests implications for…

Discusses the frequent misconception displayed by students that chromosome structure is a function of chromosome number or ploidy. Provides detailed analyses of the evidence concerning the prevalence of this ploidy/structure misconception among students of introductory genetics and the potential sources for inaccurate communication that it can…

Considers the role that students' approaches to learning play in summarizing text and learning from summarization. Discusses studies of two forms of summarization, one with the text available and one with the text removed after reading but before summarization. Reports that text-absent summarization facilitates deeper processing for students who…

This article examines and illustrates four assumptions of the sociocultural perspective for writing instruction of students with learning disabilities: writing is a holistic cognitive activity; cognitive processes are learned in dialogic interactions with others; cognitive development occurs in students' zones of proximal development; and…

Discusses the role constructivist learning theory is taking in the change of teaching strategies in the science laboratory. The laboratory moves from a place where knowledge is verified to one where relationships are actively investigated through hands-on, cooperative activities. (MDH)

A control group of 40 eighth graders completed a unit on elements and compounds. An experimental group of 42 completed concept maps on the same topic. Results of a one-tailed T test demonstrated the usefulness of concept maps as advance organizers. (KR)

A collection of 17 biology texts and computer software produced at Beloit College (Wisconsin) by an interdisciplinary group let students conduct simulated scientific experiments that would be impossible in a laboratory and complete complex statistical analyses quickly. The programs focus on three stages of scientific research: problem posing,…

Describes four kinds of pretend play inhibition observed in children from three to nine years of age. Proposes hypotheses regarding potential causes and developmental sequelae of pretend play difficulties, in both cognitive and socioaffective realms. Discusses the implications of children's pretend play inhibition for examining relationships…

This paper reviews, first, experimental studies of perceptual-cognitive development and related work directed to the assessment of infant intelligence and, second, naturalistic observation of the exploratory patterns of infants during free play. Techniques used, such as the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence, offer the potential to identify…

Examines the developmental stages or sensitive periods unique to the toddler. Discusses how Montessori practitioners can provide an environment supportive of these periods and encourage self-awareness. (HTH)

Investigated effects of characteristics of service-learning experiences on development of undergraduates. Participants (n=48) in service-learning courses and control students (n=48) wrote pre- and postresponses to social problems. Service-learning students made significant gains on certain cognitive dimensions and had significant increases in…

Explored whether there are changes with age in understanding the specific distinction between natural and human-made phenomena and whether an appreciation of this distinction influences children's beliefs about the possibility of altering or transforming different categories of objects. Found that this distinction, a powerful organizer for adults,…

Proposes a cognitive mechanism that makes forgiveness possible. Revises Piaget's theory that ideal reciprocity is the underlying cognitive operation that makes understanding and appreciation of forgiveness possible. Draws on modern philosophical inquiry, empirical study, and theory to argue instead that abstract identity provides--philosophically…

Results of a systematic investigation into university students' (n=236) misunderstandings of d.c. simple circuit operations are reported. These results provide evidence of various misconceptions present before and after teaching the following topics: a battery as a source of constant current; the functional relation expressed by Ohm's law; power…