Community development practitioners in rural areas need to develop strategies for coping with rural dependence on core organizations such as multinational corporations and national governments. Rural communities should discuss issues, join forces with other communities, interact with core actors, and find ways to be more self-reliant. (SK)

Discusses how business teachers can get students to stay in school and learn problem solving in context with teaching basic business knowledge and information processing and computer skills. (JOW)

The Oregon Parenthood Education Curriculum Model is based on the use of practical reasoning to solve the problems of the family. Students are taught to examine the underlying issues and implications for themselves and society in the problem-solving process. (SK)

High school agriculture teachers taught a unit using a problem-solving approach and one using a subject-matter approach. Data from an achievement test, attitude test, and teaching approach evaluation instrument showed higher achievement and better attitudes when the unit using problem solving was first and the subject-matter unit second. Problems…

In this second article of a series, the first three stages of the CPS (Creative Problem Solving) process are described and several facilitation techniques that can be used in each stage are discussed. The three stages discussed (Mess-Finding, Data-Finding, and Problem-Finding) each involve a creative thought and a critical thought phase. (JDD)

Discusses the transfer of problem-solving skills from computer programing to other areas of learning. Logo programing is discussed, levels of programing ability are described, attributes of microworlds are presented, and implications of the growing use of computers in the classroom for educational planning are suggested. (15 references) (LRW)

A metacognition model that can help understand general problem-solving deficits in learning disabled students is presented. Two components of metacognition are highlighted: executive processes and attributional beliefs. An educational package combining these components with specific strategy training is illustrated as an approach to improving…

The study compared the problem solving strategies of intellectually gifted (N=133), average (N=102) and mentally retarded (N=51) children on two-dimensional integration problems. Gifted children tended to integrate dimensional information by addition, average children used lexicographic strategies, and retarded children relied on a single…

A student advisory committee established to complement the evaluation of an open learning center provided valuable feedback about instruction and services, and the students served as excellent problem-solvers. As a result, the evaluation process was improved, staff gained student perspectives, and students developed skills. (MSE)

Describes team-building activities for mental health counselors who function as consultants to staffs, groups, or other intact work systems. Provides rationale for application of strategic systems and sociodrama techniques to an adventure activity that allows a group to metaphorically enact its common issue. Provides example of a consultation…

Describes an expert system that can be used to teach reading skills in a foreign language with computer-assisted learning. Augmented transition networks (ATN), used as parsers, are explained; steps in teaching foreign languages are discussed; and reading in a foreign language as a type of problem-solving activity is considered. (10 references)…

Computer simulation of drug formulation problems involves a database of pharmacological properties, chemical stability, and compatibility data on 20 active ingredients, physiological factors and requirements for parenteral solutions, and additives. The user gathers data from the database, formulates a stable and effective solution, and the drug is…

Describes a materials science and technology course for high school students, which combines chemistry, physics, engineering, math, technology education, and crafts to introduce students to the atomic make-up and physical properties of materials and to apply this knowledge in creative activities. (SK)

Examines whether the embodiment of a familiar geometric system facilitates better understanding of the vector-space concept than the embodiment of a variety of unfamiliar algebraic systems. Analyzes students' responses with description, final answer, and justification of answers. Provides six problems. (YP)

A survey of 32 displaced agricultural workers and 19 prospective employers identified the education and training perceived necessary by both groups to gain employment in desired occupations. Results indicate that educational efforts should teach problem-solving and decision-making skills as well as technical skills. (CH)