Motivated by the brain, neural networks are a right-brained approach to artificial intelligence that is used to recognize patterns based on previous training. In practice, one would not program an expert system to recognize a pattern and one would not train a neural network to make decisions from rules; but one could combine the best features of…

This paper explores the contributions of several disciplines of the social sciences to peace education and peace psychology and focuses on positive gains in several aspects of peace education and conflict resolution witnessed by the researcher in over 10 years of work. The paper contains the following sections: (1) Introduction; (2)…

This curriculum unit describes geothermal energy in the context of the world's energy needs. It addresses renewable and nonrenewable energy sources with an in-depth study of geothermal energy--its geology, its history, and its many uses. Included are integrated activities involving science, as well as math, social studies, and language arts.…

Although it takes only 2 years to attain conversational competence in a second language, it takes up to 7 years to realize sufficient language competence to achieve academically at the level of native speakers. Specific adaptations in instructional methods in mathematics for language minority students should include techniques from English as a…

Knowing how people learn and why they learn in a specific manner unlocks the mysteries of good teaching. Many learning style differences are related to Piagetian stages of cognitive development. Students' stages of cognitive development may not correspond to their ages and achievements. Piaget also found that many individuals are at different…

This guide was developed for educators, juvenile justice practitioners, and others in youth-serving organizations to increase awareness of conflict resolution education and its potential for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Conflict resolution programs can help schools promote both the individual behavior changes necessary for responsible…

This book is designed to provide teachers with numerous ideas about how to infuse mathematics and writing into their classroom in creative and challenging ways and to encourage students to visualize, speak, and write about math. The activities described here can help students communicate mathematically and realize that there is more to math than…

Organized around the theme of conflict resolution, this booklet provides teachers and lawyers with classroom materials for elementary grades K-3 (Level A), intermediate grades 4-6 (Level B), middle school grades 6-8 (Level C), and high school grades 9-12 (Level D). In addition, each level contains pages for the lawyer (marked by the scales of…

This paper reports on a study that examined teenagers' modes of reasoning regarding the onset of sexual activity. Study participants, 200 California public high school students (96 males, 104 females, mean age 15.41 years), responded to questions about sexual values and decision-making. Students reported an average of 17.06 years as the age they…

The book "Productive Thinking", by Gestalt psychologist Max Wertheimer, was published over 50 years ago, yet it continues to wield influence. The book's argument on productive thinking, and why it is still relevant today, are the focus of this paper. Productive thinking involves going from a situation of bewilderment or confusion about some issue…

This activity book serves as a primer on population dynamics and environmental impacts. It is designed to show young students their connections to other people, all living things, and the environment that surrounds them. While the kit is designed for use with students in grades 1-6, many of the activities are more appropriate for upper elementary…

Every person can and should be instructed in critical thinking to the limits of his or her abilities and capabilities. No one strategy will fit all individuals at all levels, but strategies can be developed, directed by a single goal, that will be adaptable enough to respond to changing cultural conditions and educational necessities. Infusing…

Pupils need to experience a variety of reading activities in mathematics. Commercially published materials should be on the understanding levels of individual learners. Starting with the kindergarten level and progressing sequentially through the ensuing school years, pupils need to read meaningfully numerals used in the basic four operations, the…

In an effort to create a mathematics learning environment in which the social nature of the classroom facilitates conceptual conjecture and justification, a visual representation has been designed that students can manipulate to make demonstrative proofs in the domain of proportional representation. This study explores student use, incorporation,…

This book leads the reader through a step-by-step process for creating and presenting a workshop. At each step, the book notes the important decisions workshop planners need to make, guides them in making those decisions, suggests resources that may help, provides real-world examples, and includes forms, checklists, and worksheets to make the…