A longitudinal study followed perceptual and problem solving skill development in children (2-11 years old) with severe problems of oral and written language acquisition: 15 hearing impaired (HI) Ss; 11 children with a hearing loss that alone did not account for their language problem, who presented in addition so-called "learning problems" (HIL…

In two studies, preschool children's social interactions while working on problem-solving tasks were investigated. In the first study, 27 preschool children were observed over a period of 9 weeks while working on learning games at a computer. Sharing, verbal and nonverbal instruction, and initiation of interaction were recorded. A total of 63…

Written for curriculum developers and vocational education instructors, this publication provides an understanding of cognitive concepts and methods using an information processing paradigm and shows how to apply this knowledge in development of curriculum and instructional plans. Chapter 1 reviews needs and characteristics of vocational education…

Instructional supervision, despite the lack of evidence for its value, can potentially help improve instruction and promote educators' professional growth. To realize this potential, schools should analyze their supervisory practice according to these four premises: (1) that each school district and each school has unique organizational…

The third of a three-part computer awareness program for grades K-9, this five-unit guide includes objectives, notes and explanations, and suggested activities for developing basic concepts, skills, and attitudes related to computer technology for grades 7-9. Student activity worksheets are included for each unit. Unit 1 covers computer operation,…

The concept of the quality circle (QC) is outlined and a brief history given of its use in Japan and eventual migration to the United States in 1974. The leaders and participants in QC's are trained in communication and problem-solving skills. The essential techniques used in the QC are brainstorming, consensus, cause and effect analysis, data…

This paper discusses research on the processes by which individuals progress toward expertise in scientific domains, focusing on the activity of constructing qualitative problem representations during solution of standard mechanics problems in physics. It includes information on: (1) descriptive analyses of problem-solving performance; (2)…

This research addresses the actual goals and intentions from which students plan and organize their work in a course of study. Representations can either facilitate or hinder learning and problem solutions. Several salient aspects of adult students' representational systems and how they influenced university study were examined in two studies. The…

A study was conducted to examine computer programming as a problem solving activity. Thirteen fifth grade children were selected by their teacher from an above average class to use Apple IIe microcomputers. The investigator conducted sessions of 40-50 minutes with the children in groups of two or three. Four problems, incorporating the programming…

Argues that although it is often thought and said that what we most need in education is wisdom and broad understanding of the issues that confront us, what we really need are deeply structured theories in education that drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the need for wisdom. (Author/JM)

Describes classroom discussions with third and fifth graders based on William Glasser's "Schools without Failure". These discussions encouraged the teachers and children to experience their own feelings and understand others and to engage in democratic problem-solving activities. (SDH)

This study investigated the relative benefits of peer-­controlled and moderated online collaboration during group problem solving. Thirty­-five self­-selected groups of four or five students were randomly assigned to the two conditions, which used the same online collaborative tool to solve twelve problem scenarios in an undergraduate statistics…

In product engineering there often arise design analysis problems for which a commercial software package is either unavailable or cost prohibitive. Further, these calculations often require successive iterations that can be time intensive when performed by hand, thus development of a software application is indicated. This case relates to the…

This article illustrates how the generic employability skills approach to critical thinking suffers from serious conceptual and epistemological difficulties that impact deleteriously on both its practical effectiveness and democratic appropriateness. Unlike technical skills, employability skills, in this case cognitive capacities such as critical…

A basic problem of disadvantaged students is their inability to deal with information: to assist the teacher the Niagara Centre of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education has described a set of skills sequences that might be called Basic Thinking Skills. (JM)