This article focuses on two approaches to teaching reasoning and problem solving. One emphasizes the role of domain-specific knowledge; the other emphasizes general strategic and metacognitive knowledge. Many instructional programs are based on the latter approach. The article concludes that these programs can be strengthened by focusing on domain…

Discusses the impact of computer programing instruction on cognitive skills and suggests two mechanisms of transfer--low road, from practice, and high road, from generalization. Previous research that tried to measure transfer from programing is reviewed, six categories in which transfer might occur are presented, and 71 references are provided.…

Discusses a study which focused on students' actual programming behavior. Descriptive data revealed that the high school students spent little time in planning their programs or writing their code. Their debugging behavior was characterized as a trial and error strategy. (ML)

When interpersonal problem-solving (IPS) ability, assertiveness, and self-esteem were assessed for 241 fourth- through sixth-graders and related to competence with peers, teachers, and academic subjects, assertiveness was a distinct factor with overlap between IPS and self-esteem. Positive correlations were found between each factor and grade…

Describes an "Improving the Human Environment of School" (IHES) group. Shows counselors how to facilitate such a problem-solving group which has as its purpose the improvement of the school's human environment so as to increase the students' achievement and promote their development. (ABB)

Discusses strategic teaching, a process for organizing and representing subject content, for helping students think about their own learning processes, for organizing skills instruction, and for managing classroom instruction. Provides an example of strategic instructional planning and a graphic that shows step-by-step procedures for the planning…

There are many problems that can be translated into the language of graph theory. Such a problem, discussed in this article is to show that in any group of two or more people, there are at least two people who have the same number of acquaintances in the group. (PK)

The cognitive movement emphasizes perception and memory and deemphasizes learning, retention, and transfer (as in traditional associationism). A general reconceptualization of learning and retention makes these concepts subordinate to the concept of transfer and emphasizes prior knowledge, skills, and attitudes. A general information processing…

Gender differences in spatial ability in old age were examined and the effectiveness of cognitive training in reducing these differences was assessed. Age-related decline in the speed of problem solving, especially for men, was noted. Following training on mental rotation ability, there was no significant gender difference in spatial ability…

Defines one approach to problem solving in terms of student use of algorithms to find their solutions and gives examples. Discusses how problems and algorithms relate to each other. Describes strategies for teaching problem solving using algorithms. (CW)

Using an experimental computer language, students were exposed to multimedia computer events of their own design. This nontraditional computer application allows students room for self-expression; they program the computer, rather than being "programmed" by it. Examples of projects are given. (JL)

Second and third graders from six Dutch elementary schools (N = 168) solved two sets of almost identical addition and subtraction sums at a two-week interval. Inconsistency in strategies, which characterized half the subjects, was related to unfamiliar sums and resulted in misinterpreted errors. (TJH)

Discusses the special information needs of the building industry, attributes of existing expert systems that support building design and construction, and current research to further develop the application of expert systems to this area. An annotated listing of related expert system developments is appended. (49 references) (CLB)

Five papers on the use of computer simulation (CS) in educational research are presented. The impacts of CS on educational research, modeling task performance, use of CS in problem solving in subject-matter domains, an interpretation synthesis model of medical teaching rounds discourse for expert system interaction, and computer-based learning…

Describes an expert system microcomputer-based program, ZEERA, which is designed to help users understand and perform statistical analyses. Computer-assisted instruction and the traditional approach of drill and practice are discussed, and benefits of using ZEERA are described based on testing in a university elementary statistics course. (11…