Describes an exercise that uses riddles to expose students to important aspects of the process and experience of scientific thinking. Contends that the exercise allows students to examine their thought processes and to view scientific questions from different perspectives. Reports positive student reaction. (DB)

Evaluates well-designed cases involving students in situations which simulate those outside the classroom environment. Offers additional features based on problem solving and rhetorical theory to help make cases more adaptable to the field of professional communications. Describes examples of two types of cases which put the theory into practice.…

Some suggestions for troubleshooting when problems develop with a college merchandising program cover topics such as delivery delays, product quality, promotional material, merchandise that outside manufacturers sell directly through ads in alumni magazines, and "lemons." (MLW)

Except for its relationship to science, mathematics is the forgotten cousin in interdisciplinary teaching and learning. In the Journeys in Mathematics project, teachers engage children in imaginative activities that inspire them to identify patterns and relationships, solve problems, and communicate accurately, using Jonathan Swift's…

Sixty-nine graduate students in a statistics class participated in this study of the effects of self-monitoring on learning and attitudes toward learning. Self-monitoring subjects recorded learning activities and rated their problem-solving efficacy. As predicted, the self-monitoring group performed better than did the instructor-monitoring and…

Completion of the Group Embedded Figures Test by 237 secondary marketing education students determined that most students, particularly females, had only low to moderate restructuring skills, needed for complex cognitive tasks; and most had career goals congruent with their attitudes and social skills but not their cognitive aptitude for…

Uses a variation of Hansen's surveyor problem to illustrate how exploring students' assumptions can lead to interesting mathematical insights. Describes methods that utilize self-stick notes and overhead transparencies to adapt computer software to specific classroom needs. (MDH)

Examined utility of cognitive variables (pessimism, perceived and actual problem-solving ability, polarized thinking, self-negativity, construct system constriction and differentiation) as predictors of suicide risk among 79 hospitalized psychiatric patients. Results indicated that hopelessness, self-negativity, and poor problem-solving…

A survey sent out by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International asked for information about specific site problems that have been encountered and solutions for dealing with these problems. Nineteen submissions include contact names and phone numbers. (MLF)

Creating classroom rules together can be a very meaningful experience for children and teachers and can help establish a positive sense of classroom community. Student participation in rule-making encourages active involvement, reflection, meaningful connections, respect for rules, a sense of community, problem solving through negotiation,…

Investigated the extent to which differences in problem-solving performance of stronger and weaker novices in physics arise from differences in amount of domain knowledge, in how domain knowledge is organized, and in the strategic application of domain knowledge. Differences were observed in how 10 university physics students solved easy and…

In 3 experiments, 93, 97, and 86 college students, respectively, learned how to solve 20 verbal analogy problems and took transfer and memory tests. Results are inconsistent with active responding theory and further indicate that schema induction is maximized when the schemas are made salient and the cognitive system is not overloaded. (SLD)

Describes the PACKETS Program for Middle School Mathematics, a research-based performance-assessment program being developed by the Educational Testing Service. The activities, based on real-life problems whose solutions must address a particular client's needs, are designed to promote student learning while allowing the teacher to document this…

Cognitive load theory was explored in 3 conditions among 96 third graders in nonisomorphic analogical transfer (problems do not have identical structures, constraints, and problem spaces). Conditions under which children best adjust the base to the target are discussed, and implications for transfer are reviewed. (SLD)

Describes a project that integrated use of a computerized nursing care database into the second-year undergraduate nursing curriculum to enable students to produce sound care plans; promote student understanding of the medical and health conditions which these plans addressed; and enable students to explore the premises and reasoning behind the…