Describes a fifth-grade student solving the "Food for Thought" problem featured in the February 1998 issue. (ASK)

Examines whether problem-solving appraisal plays a role in recovery from depression in a university population (N=66). Results were consistent with the hypothesis that self-appraised effective problem solvers would be more likely to recover from a depressive episode than self-appraised ineffective problem solvers. (Contains 29 references.)…

Surveys 85 health care professionals on the learning difficulties of diabetic patients. Results show that educators find it easy to teach techniques: patients master procedures well and make few mistakes. In contrast, diabetic patients seem to have problems learning skills, such as insulin dose adjustment, that require complex problem-solving.…

Preliminary analysis of data collected from trained expert facilitators of ad hoc creative teams (n=43) found that complex analytical techniques such as costed function modeling and decision criteria matrix may have far more impact upon a team's creative effectiveness than frequently researched measures such as idea quantity. (Contains…

A study explored the problem solving abilities of 15 children (ages 3-6). A medical problem with a known solution was presented in the form of a children's story. Results showed that after reading the story, four suggested the correct solution. Other non-practical, but creative solutions were also suggested. (Contains seven references.) (CR)

Recommends that teachers wishing to develop the problem-solving expertise of students make concentrated and sustained efforts to develop students' knowledge base, skill base, resource base, strategy-experience base, and behavioral base. Application in a General Physics course resulted in improved problem solving performance which is partially…

Proposes a new training approach to teach effective statistical thinking and describes two studies where people were trained to solve tasks involving conjunctive and conditional probabilities using a frequency grid. Discusses frequency format versus probability format, and describes results that suggest the importance of learning by doing.…

Clarifies how the relationship between macro and micro social contexts has been addressed in the Vygotskian and Neo-Piagetian approaches to learning. Discusses how these insights can be used to broaden the basis for studying interactions in mathematics classrooms and concludes with ideas for new developments in socio-cultural theory. (Contains 92…

Presents empirical evidence for imitative problem solving and the interpretation theory, based on a study of Scottish secondary school students. Discusses analogical problem solving; the interpretation theory notation; and predicted sources of difficulty in mapping and adapting the practice problem to solve a variant. (Contains 42 references.)…

Examines the effect of group size in problem-based learning on the problem-solving skill, self-directedness, and technical knowledge of 72 students in a dental education program. Discusses results of pretests and posttests, students' reactions, and implications for instructional design. (Contains 34 references.) (Author/LRW)

Aims to find the influence of overcoming fixation in mathematical problem-solving towards divergent thinking in open-ended mathematics problems. Presents findings from an investigation of Japanese junior high school students. Reports that students who can overcome fixation in mathematics can contribute varied and original ideas in open-ended…

Discusses the advantages of teaching with open-ended tasks and compares students' responses to open-ended, closed-area, and perimeter tasks. (ASK)

States that principals need to be leaders in guiding teachers to provide the best objectives, learning activities, and appraisal procedures to guide optimal pupil progress. Contends that each pupil is unique in learning style and needs a variety of experiences, and that the school curriculum needs frequent evaluation so that changes and…

Because continuous learning and knowledge generation are core competencies in our ability to resolve the problems facing us as a world community, we must reject the efficiency model and embrace the emerging model of learning. Current schooling structures are counter to new brain/mind learning precepts. Learner-as-pioneer requires individuals to…

Investigates the influence of socio-affective context on the interactive modalities surrounding problem-solving discussions conducted with 8-year-old children. Results suggests that reciprocal friendship facilitates collaboration and the organization of collective work. Discusses two rival hypotheses of socio-affective proximity and…