Describes a programming environment called Tinker, in which a beginning programmer presents examples to the machine, distinguishing accidental and essential aspects of the examples. Examples of programming in Tinker are presented in which programmers demonstrate how to handle specific examples and the machine formulates a procedure for handling…

Directions are given for making comprehension guides to help students comprehend word problems. Samples for two problems are given, and uses are discussed. (MNS)

The problem of controlling the grizzly bear population at Yellowstone is described. The results are presented in graphical form and discussed. A computer program is included. (MNS)

Discusses five of the most common approaches to planning adult education programs: pragmatic approach, Tyler approach, social psychology approach, community development approach, and systems approach. In addition to these, other adult educators offer more eclectic approaches to program planning. (CT)

A set of references on problem solving is provided, coded by age level and types of content. Background information and instructional activities are both included. (MNS)

Discussed are three recent psychological experiments that demonstrate (1) how students can be instructed to falsify on two tasks that model scientific reasoning and (2) how the possibility of error in the data affects their attempts to falsify. Games were used in the treatments. (MNS)

Described are procedures followed in developing, administering, and scoring a set of mathematical problem-solving superitems and examining their construct validity through a recently developed evaluation technique associated with a taxonomy of the structure of learned outcomes. Data strongly support the validity of the underlying theoretical…

An experiment investigated: (1) how verbalization of subtraction with regrouping operations influenced learning disabled students' self-efficacy and skillful performance; and (2) explored how effort-attributional feedback affected achievement behaviors. Continuous feedback led to high self-efficacy and skillful performance, and effort feedback…

Discusses the support for higher-order skills in the secondary school and vocational curricula, the need for higher-order skills in the marketing curriculum, methods of teaching higher-order skills, and implications for teacher education. (CT)

The knowledge era demands that students and faculty analyze and organize information, which requires intellectual skills rooted in critical thinking, problem solving, formal operations, creative, and more recent metacognitive and cognitive concepts. These skills seem to have operations in common, including description, selection, representation,…

Using Raven Progressive Matrices Test items, this study developed an empirical measure of subjects' ability to create new problems. The relationship between this ability and problem solving skills was examined. A very low correlation was found between inventing and solving problems. Problem creation was more difficult than problem solving. (BS)

Analyses of 42 mothers' summary descriptions of their child relationship problems revealed that multistressed mothers produced less complex reports than singularly distressed mothers. Findings suggested that multistressed mothers do not engage their kinfolk and friends in problem-solving discussions, nor do the listeners encourage such…

Assigned 64 urban disadvantaged fourth- and fifth-grade students to either a social problem-solving training, response cost, social problem-solving training plus response cost, or control group. Those exposed to problem-solving training improved on measures of alternative thinking and consequential thinking skills. Training did not affect teacher…

The study of dispute settlement is an emerging field with complex intellectual roots. It may provide a means of strengthening the law school curriculum with the human aspects of legal education and vital skills such as interviewing, counseling, negotiation, and mediation. (MSE)

Identifies six needs assessment procedures applied in educational and other organizations, provides examples of how each is used, and discusses the relationship of needs assessment to problem solving. Kaufman's Outcomes Model is described and the Organizational Elements Model is presented as a pragmatic approach to contemporary decision making and…