Contrasts students' presymbolic and symbolic procedures in generalizing activities. Uses the semiotic-cultural theoretical approach and focuses on the role of body, discourse, and signs when students refer to mathematical objects. Identifies types of generalizations and discusses a specific kind of rupture in the ostensive gestures and…

Examines the process through which students learn to make functional use of computer algebra systems (CAS) and the interaction between that process and the wider mathematical development of students. Highlights important challenges that arise in instrumenting classroom mathematical activity and instrumentalizing CAS correspondingly. Reveals…

Describes an inquiry-based teaching method implemented in an undergraduate exercise physiology laboratory course. Indicates students' strong, positive feelings about the inquiry-based teaching method and shows that inquiry-based learning results in a higher order of learning not typically observed in traditional style classes. This teaching method…

Explores theories that underlie thinking concerning art education. Focuses on the importance of the process of children's looking at pictures and reviews critical studies on the topic. Also considers numerous aspects of Rudolph Arnheim's theories about the processes of seeing and thinking. (BG)

Twenty-one autistic and 21 nonautistic retarded adolescents and young adults were compared on British Picture Vocabulary Scale items considered emotion-related or highly abstract. Autistic subjects' lower scores on emotion-related items suggest autism-specific impairments in grasping these concepts. No differences were found for abstract/concrete…

The effects of asking 48 undergraduates to generate personal examples of target concepts on learning of psychological concepts from prose were evaluated. This elaboration activity produced a significant positive effect. Elaboration processes seemed to influence the transfer of concepts to problem-solving, especially for lower ability students.…

Briefly characterizes the view of context most widely used in applied linguistics and language teaching. Research about some of the parameters that contribute to greater or lesser conceptual difficulty is outlined. Research about the role of intentionality and causality in narrative is also described. (Author/CB)

A discussion of language curriculum design for promoting learner autonomy looks at the objectives of such a curriculum, the learning implied by those objectives, and the function and relevance of the learnings. (Author/MSE)

Investigated were the connotative meanings of the concept "development" in respondents' cognitive structure using a free-association approach. The sample included 6th, 9th, and 11th grade students, student-teachers, and biology teachers. Reports a paucity of multicontextuality; the majority of subjects' associations referred to biology…

Examines nine science textbooks intended for use in British lower secondary schools from an analytical approach and through an analysis of lesson-units. Finds that the authors were inclined to use practical activities as a vehicle for concept acquisition. Indicates also that science teachers have inadequate notions of a process-based approach. (KO)

Specific teaching strategies to help hearing-impaired secondary students comprehend abstract concepts include (1) pinpointing facts and fallacies, (2) organizing information visually, (3) categorizing ideas, and (4) reinforcing new vocabulary and concepts. Figures provide examples of strategy applications. (DB)

Reports various misconceptions of Newton's third law obtained from interviews and written tests of high school students. Suggests putting emphasis on the third law in physics teaching. Ten references are listed. (YP)

Presents young children's concepts related to probability grouped by definite, possible, and definitely not. Discusses the teaching methods of the probability concepts. (YP)

Refutes David Tukey's argument that the consensus theory of epistemic rhetoric reduces spiritual experience to a social construct which denies the possibility of a divine reality. Examines Walter Rauschenbusch's "A Theology for the Social Gospel" to prove that consensus theory accounts for religious beliefs, providing a useful framework…

Discusses the use of semantic mapping in social studies as a means of conceptually organizing written material. Points out that this process is useful because it gives students an overview of the content prior to reading materials and provides an opportunity for students to develop visual images. Offers four examples. (KO)