Presents a classroom scenario in which a student concocts a unique solution to a standard circle exercise and the class attempts to verify if the solution works for all cases of the problem. (MKR)

Describes an exercise designed to be used in an Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry course to accompany the study of thermodynamics. Uses Differential Scanning Calorimetry in teaching the concepts of thermochemistry and thermodynamics. (JRH)

Describes a study that provides information about the extent to which students actually use their mathematical resources and strategies to solve problems. Interviews were used to analyze the problem solving abilities of high school students (N=35) as they solved five problems. (DDR)

In productive constructionism, a teacher's job is to fuse students' knowledge with what experts know, not to favor one over the other. Teachers do not promote understanding by permitting students' constructions to stand even though they clash with experts' constructions. Student engagement in problem-solving tasks is crucial, but so is…

Discusses the use of student-generated rubrics in science classes where students design their own laboratory activities to solve open-ended problems. Promotes careful consideration of what constitutes open-ended work. Presents certain rubrics and grading criteria. (JRH)

Three experiments involving 163 college students demonstrate that problem solvers use at least two sources of information to make operator selections in the building sticks task (adding and subtracting sticks to obtain a desired length): (1) information from their past history of using operators and (2) information from the problem's current…

The phenomenon of creativity is so prevalent and yet so ill-defined. After examining several definitions, this author posits that creativity is a natural process in which humans use their physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual resources to produce something new. Creativity seems to satisfy a deep fundamental yearning to go beyond…

Discusses Mission Possible, a problem-solving strategy that provides a wide range of learning experiences and encourages students and teachers to explore the use of scientific ideas and principles. Describes setting up a Mission Possible Day for primary students in a rural community. (Author/NB)

Presents a preliminary analysis from a study designed to investigate the participation of students learning English as an additional language in primary school mathematics. Concerns how students make sense of mathematics classroom interaction. Describes and uses the findings of three patterns of attention in the process of two students'…

Presents student responses to the "The Darts, Anyone?" problem that appeared in the May, 1999 issue of this journal. The problem concerned finding possible scores on dart rings. (KHR)

Describes an activity on density and its role on an object's floating or sinking. Uses canned regular and diet Coke soda pop to demonstrate differences in density. (YDS)

Points out the importance of problem solving as a fundamental skill and how students struggle with problem solving in physics courses. Describes a workbook developed as a solution to students' struggles that features simple exercises and advanced problem solving. (Contains 12 references.) (Author/YDS)

Explains a variety of models involving information use and includes key resources for each one. Highlights include a study of information skills; the REACTS model; the Big Six for information problem-solving; portfolio of information skills; pathways to knowledge; and characteristics of information literacy. (LRW)

Reexamines an experiment in which the volumetric fraction of oxygen in air was supposed to have been determined. Presents challenges to the procedure. (DDR)

Examined the thinking of students who constructed personal knowledge about division of fractions. Mixed-ability fifth grade mathematics students used pictures, symbols, and words to resolve situations and communicate solutions. All strategies that the students used represented some manifestation of conceptual knowledge about addition and…