The appallingly inadequate knowledge of current and international affairs among U.S. college students is well documented. ICONS, the International Communication and Negotiation Simulations program, offers an encouraging initiative for addressing the problem. ICONS is a "model United Nations" that the staff of the University of Maryland…

This guide presents current scientific research on the process of human learning and stresses the importance of metacognition. Focus is placed on memory and learning with analogies to photography being employed to aid understanding. This guide also includes background information on human memory; a poster; instructions for the four short term…

This paper reports on a study that consists of the analysis of the discourse of mother-child dyads (N=32) as they interacted during the performance of three science activities that increased in difficulty. Partial dialogues of three high achieving dyads during the solution of the task are presented and examined for evidence of semiotic uptake. The…

This research study focused on the knowledge structure of the domain of physics by describing the knowledge of experts, intermediates, and novices. In order to investigate these representations, a reiterative categorization task was employed using novice, intermediate, and expert subjects (N=27). The categories were classified as theory-, model-,…

This paper discusses what metacognitive and cognitive actions elementary students make when they tackle mathematics problems. Findings are presented from the first 30 multimethod interviews conducted with Australian elementary mathematics students. Students used a set of specially designed metacognitive and cognitive action cards to stimulate…

To deal with behavior problems and create safe environments, schools increasingly have adopted social control practices. These include discipline and classroom management practices that analysts see as blaming the victim and modeling behavior that fosters, rather than counters, the development of negative values. To move beyond overreliance on…

This unit of materials focuses on understanding conflict, individually and in the social extreme of war. The unit's purpose is to examine the underlying primary factors that create conflict in relationships and explore alternatives for resolution. The 20 lessons include: (1) "The Beginner's Eye"; (2) "Discovering the Wise…

What are textbooks that teach? How can they help solve pedagogical problems? How can their pedagogical design be improved? These questions were used to develop a problem-solving model of textbook design. Textbooks that teach evoke learner activities designed to achieve contemporary cognitive goals. Suggestions for using textbooks to help solve…

This study was conducted to examine how old and very old people cope with the difficult situations in their lives. The main goals of the study were to develop a measure for the identification of coping patterns in the old and very old, identify coping patterns, and investigate those patterns with respect to age and subjective well-being.…

There are many learning opportunities in the science curriculum which emphasize creativity. Learning opportunities are described in this paper which involve: (1) problem solving experiences; (2) poetry reading and writing; (3) prose and its applications in creative endeavors; (4) art work as creativity in science; (5) creative dramatics and famous…

Subcellular processes like meiosis are frequently problematic for learners because they are complex and, except for the extent that they can be observed under a light microscope, occur outside of our direct experience. More detailed characterization of what underlies various degrees of student understanding of a process is required to more fully…

This volume, one of a series of curriculum guides compiled by the Colorado Workplace Learning Initiative: 1991-92, contains seven workplace literacy courses on enhanced basic skills involving decisions, teams, problem solving, and critical thinking. Introductory materials include a table of contents and a list of the curriculum topics covered by…

Reflective practice is a mode that integrates thought and action with reflection. Learning is dependent upon the integration of experience with reflection and of theory with practice. Experience is a basis for learning but reflection is the essential part of the learning process because it results in making sense or extracting meaning from the…

This book provides a sequence of organized training sessions and activities designed to prepare students for such helping roles as student assistant, tutor, special friend, and small group leader. The first of the handbook's seven chapters provides an introduction to friendly helpers, describes helping characteristics, and presents an overview of…

Findings of a study that examined the collaborative problem-solving processes used by superintendents are presented in this paper. Based on information processing theory, the study utilizes a model composed of the following components: interpretation; goals; principles and values; constraints; solution processes; and mood. Data were derived from…