Presenting students with nonroutine problems is likely to produce affective responses by students unaccustomed to such problems. Discusses the theoretical background for evaluating students' emotional responses to problems, the relationship between problem solving and affect, emotions and beliefs, and techniques for dealing with affect in the…

Given the pace and enormity of change affecting our lives, attacking problems piecemeal is ineffective. To avoid further chaos, school leaders must launch initiatives from a complete systemic shift. Tenure should be abolished. The shift to problem solving requires perspective, energy, and vision. This can happen only after administrators stop…

Accelerated learning involves a philosophy and systematic process for providing the best education for each child. Lessons are not really fast-track but designed to enrich students' learning experience through higher expectations, relevant course content, and stimulating instruction. Accelerated schools have three guiding principles: unity of…

Two college teachers acting as administrators of study abroad programs in France identify unique challenges found in the job, including unfamiliar administrative responsibilities, foreign bureaucracies, student logistical and personal problems, extensive paperwork, "on-call" student supervision, taking a family abroad, and relations with…

This study of 24 third-grade students' comprehension of mathematical operations found that students who received instruction that provided explicit instruction focusing on conceptual understanding, problem-solving skills, and developing connections of mathematical concepts performed better than students receiving implicit instruction. (Author/JDD)

Community college students with learning disabilities (n=38) and math-competent peers (n=22) were taught representation-related strategies for solving compare word problems. Results generally supported the hypothesis that students receiving schema training would improve more than students assigned to linguistic training. (JDD)

Discusses the establishment and implications of programs and workshops developed in response to Florida's State Comprehension Plan for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education. Emphases are on efforts geared toward expanding support for precollege science teaching. (ZWH)

Designing staff development activities that incorporate four elements of reflective practice helps develop participants' reflective abilities. The article discusses focusing on real problems and concerns; changing the nature of the problem; process-oriented staff development; and promoting collaborative partnerships. (SM)

An extension of the multidimensional Rasch model for learning and change is presented that permits theories of processes and knowledge structures to be incorporated into the item response model. The extension resolves basic problems in measuring change and permits adaptive testing. The method is illustrated in a study of mathematical problem…

It is argued that the trend toward emphasizing conceptual knowledge over skills in mathematics instruction may require a reconsideration of the deficit model that has dominated intervention practice. General and specific suggestions are made toward establishing a new classroom environment for conceptual mathematics learning for all students.…

This article presents a survey and analysis of Examiners' Reports on French written papers, looking specifically at difficulties in using verbs appropriately. It draws on evidence from second-language acquisition research to determine the nature of the problem and hypothesizes links between the decline in written accuracy and the rise in oral…

Describes a consumer science fair to help students develop problem-solving skills and become savvy consumers. (MKR)

Presents an activity using logic mystery stories that students solve by asking yes-or-no questions. Helps students discover the reasoning behind good questioning and provides for practice with instant feedback from the teacher. Includes sample stories. (MKR)

Presents results of a qualitative study of problem solving in the domain of instructional design. Novice and expert instructional designers worked on a "think aloud" design task, and their instruction protocols were analyzed for problem-solving processes. Analysis revealed that experts and novices used divergent design models and…

Traces the history and philosophy of core skills. Suggests that, although the way they are used in training and vocational education has positively changed the way skills are viewed, the approach is narrow in outlook, especially the General National Vocational Qualifications, and may not serve the best interests of industry or society. (Author/JOW)