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)

Level of operational thinking required (cognitive demand) for concepts or problems and test items on the mole concept was determined and compared to the Piagetian levels of thinking of 71 students. Pupil cognitive level was positively associated with overall unit test scores and with percent success on all test items. (Author/SK)

Students in Grades six, seven, and eight were asked to integrate existing information and initially unknown answers to prose-related questions for answering superordinate questions. Results suggest that grade level development of hypothetico-deductive skills interacts with instructional prompt levels and that these skills are essential to…

Study investigated the relationship between children's (N=66) length conservation status and ability to acquire specific length measurement skills, and examined the interaction between mode of instruction (manipulative, graphic, and abstract) and conservation status. The expectation that length conservers would outperform nonconservers on…

Lists the questions about animals most asked by children within specific stages of cognitive development. Based on a research project on children's questions, this article suggests that an understanding of a child's questions can provide information on his psychological needs, interests, and level of cognitive development. (SA)

The type of ordering criteria which students use to organize conceptual information was investigated. It was concluded that the ordering criteria reflected knowledge of a specific domain and were a function of developmental level. This information can be used by teachers as a basis for grouping. (Author/MH)

Describes the development and evaluation of a communication program which, through speaker-listener settings, aims to give children strategies for recognizing and conveying critical attributes, ignoring redundant information, and sequencing information. (Author/BW)

The shift in behavior therapy towards more cognitively oriented interventions in the treatment of behavior disorders in school children is reviewed. Recent applications of cognitive behavior modification have dealt with traditional academic concerns. (Author/MH)

Science activities with soap bubbles for primary school children are described in this article. Another activity involves children in determining the whereabouts of sugar as it dissolves in water. (SA)

The article explores the value of simulation gaming for changing attitudes of gifted students concerning sex roles. Simulation gaming has considerable potential for reducing, altering, and changing attitudes concerning sex role limitations, since gaming involves devising plans and motivating appeals, in addition to role playing, negotiating,…

Describes Eleusis, a card game invented in the mid-1950s to stimulate various features of scientific inquiry. The analogies between Eleusis and scientific methods are also discussed to illustrate the effectiveness of this game for reinforcing science teaching. (HM)

A study examined whether instruction in collaborative skills and learning characteristics of students with mild disabilities (MD) would influence 17 preservice elementary education teachers' attitudes toward students with MD, knowledge of learning characteristics, and their instructional planning. Results found differences in instructional…