Eight experiments examined whether certain human problem-solving mechanisms should be expected to represent probability information in terms of frequency. Findings are consistent with literature indicating that frequentist representations eliminate various cognitive biases, including overconfidence, the conjunction fallacy, and base rate neglect.…

Analyzes students' attempts to answer examination questions involving stoichiometry and chemical equilibrium and reports that the majority of the students do not fully understand either concept. Concludes that the main difficulty with these topics is that they are highly abstract and first taught to students before they have reached the stage of…

This column examines how to reconcile differences in parents' and teachers' ideas of learning and prevent the negative effects on children when teachers and parents do not agree, recommending that good conversation and communication are the best ways to prevent such conflicts from happening in the first place. (SM)

Discusses advantages and considerations in using open-ended problems in mathematics teaching and evaluation. Describes results of using open-ended problems in a sixth-grade class in Japan. (Author/MKR)

The help-seeking behavior of 715 Australian late adolescents with personal problems was assessed 5 times over 12 months. The help-seeking behavior of these adolescents did not appear to alleviate their psychological distress effectively. Focusing on problems by talking about them may have intensified rather than relieved their problems. (SLD)

How to generate information that can be used in the evaluation of problem solving by school principals was studied, drawing on a survey of 36 California principals. A proposed conceptual framework was tested in interviews with 30 other principals. Information generated by one principal illustrates problem solving in action. (SLD)

Explored dimensions of behavioral consultation that can potentially influence teachers' reactions to consultation process. Elementary school teachers (n=60) were randomly assigned to view and rate one of four scenarios which varied by consultee involvement and consultant language. Subjects reported high ratings for technical language when…

Discussion of a prototype intelligent education system called WOMBAT (Weighted Objectives Method by Arguing with the Tutor) focuses on dialogue and negotiation in collaborative problem solving. The results of a formative evaluation, in which the system was used by 10 subjects who commented on various aspects of the design, are presented. (Contains…

Interviewed six first-year college students in an introductory physics course about their beliefs about physics. Characterized the students' beliefs about the structure of physics knowledge as isolated facts or a coherent system; content of physics knowledge as formulas or underlying concepts; and process of learning physics as receiving…

This paper argues that problem-based learning in higher education offers more constructive ways of thinking and acting in times of educational change. The same problem-based approach can illuminate some of the issues in current efforts at educational reform and assist in bringing about constructive change. (MSE)

Practical strategies for eliciting vocabulary without translation in a Spanish class are discussed, and examples are given of a cross-skills approach that requires students to use different linguistic abilities to generate appropriate lexical responses. Figures showing how to construct these exercises are included. (Contains 14 references.)…

Offers examples of games and problem-solving strategies to help students solve word problems in mathematics. Emphasizes the importance of first considering the question the word problem poses and using game techniques to teach students how to transfer those same strategies to solve different math problems. (TJQ)

Describes two problem-solving videodisc adventure stories related to geometry and reports reactions of (n=25) teachers and their students who used the adventures. Results found teachers and students had increased knowledge of ways to apply geometry. (12 references) (MKR)

Identifies the accurate and inaccurate conceptions about osmosis from interviews of (n=16) outstanding science students. (22 references) (Author/MKR)