A study examined the relationships among creative problem solving (PS) and problem generation (PG) abilities and coping skills in 74 undergraduates. PG and PS abilities were negatively related to such coping processes as confrontation, distancing, escape-avoidance tendencies, and excessive acceptance of responsibility, and positively associated…

Investigates whether and how peer collaboration facilitated students' problem solving in physics. Finds that students' success was due to how they interacted and whether and how they invoked the relevant physics principles. (Author/CCM)

Demonstrates the use of simulation systems for studying diagnostic problem solving and presents results from two empirical studies in which undergraduates diagnosed faults that occurred in a computer-based, dynamic simulation. Discusses dual problem space search that includes generating and testing hypotheses; suggests implications for designing…

Thirty-three college students with deafness and 10 typical students were given 30 mathematics problems to solve, 15 that were word problems. As the complexity of the descriptive information in the word problems increased along with the complexity of the problem situations, the performance of students with deafness decreased. (Contains references.)…

Proposes the use of specific coaching strategies to facilitate student use of expert-like problem-solving strategies while analyzing and solving instructional design case studies. At two universities, 37 students analyzed 6-10 case studies in class and in online discussions. Findings suggested primary influences on the incidence of expert…

This qualitative case study focused on the nature of science learning through open-ended problem solving with eighth graders. Discusses results of interviews and observation that suggested students only partially derived accurate mental models, and makes recommendations for improving student understanding in open-ended environments. (Contains 95…

Describes a project that applies problem based inquiry learning units to an introductory chemistry laboratory curriculum. Uses web technologies to support instruction. (Contains 25 references.) (YDS)

Presents hands-on activities to teach about the causes and consequences of strokes. (YDS)

Compares the impact of a role-play versus a conventional discussion on students' argumentation on an issue involving animal transgenesis. Applies two different debate situations and asks students to decide whether or not to approve a giant transgenic salmon farm being set up in a seaside village. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/YDS)

Presents two components of a piece of experimental equipment, the optical training ground and the electrical panel, which can be used to construct and test different electrical circuits and study laws of electricity, experimental problem solving, and basic light phenomena. (YDS)

Introduces five approaches--problem solving/problem based learning, authentic assessment, writing and communication skills, peer and self evaluation, and fostering curiosity. Suggests that these approaches bring critical thinking to the learning process. (Contains 15 references.) (YDS)

Drawing on the "new" [c. 2000], upgraded science of the human brain with its three different kinds of neural structures--mental, emotional and spiritual--Zohar [14] offers a model for structure, leadership and learning within an organization that allows them to thrive on uncertainty, deal creatively with rapid change, and realize the full…

Previous computer-assisted problem-solving systems have incorporated all the problem-solving steps within a single stage, making it difficult to diagnose stages at which errors occurred when a student encounters difficulties, and imposing a too-high cognitive load on students in their problem solving. This study proposes a computer-assisted system…

The electronic medium suitable for mathematics learning and teaching is often designed with a notebook interface provided in a computer algebra system. Such a notebook interface facilitates a workspace for mathematical activities along with an online help system. In this paper, the proposed feature is implemented in the Mathematica's notebook…

In this study, we investigated the fluency with which first graders of different mathematical achievement levels applied multiple, school-taught strategies for finding arithmetic sums over 10. We characterized children's strategies with the 4 parameters of Lemaire and Siegler's (1995) model of strategy change (strategy repertoire, distribution,…