Describes a college course that provides a challenging learning experience in science based upon famous experiments and observations dating from the time of Aristotle to the present day. Presents information concerning (1) the course organization, structure, laboratory development, and expectations; (2) course content by quarter; (3) evaluation of…

Authors discuss how computer laboratory interfacing has revolutionized their nonscience-major introductory chemistry course. Discusses the advantages of doing away with the "cookbook" approach to laboratory experimentation. Presents an evaluation of the course approach including the finding that over 75 percent of the students felt that…

Applies Pascal's Triangle to determine the number of ways in which a given team can win a playoff series of differing lengths. Presents the solutions for one-, three-, five-, seven-, and nine-game series, and extends the solution to the general case for any series. (MDH)

Presents the mathematical proof, based on elementary number theory, for a card trick seen by students on television. Provides sources for other mathematical magic tricks that serve as motivational devices. (MDH)

The computer-based PlanAlyzer program was designed to teach clinical diagnosis to medical students, taking into account several characteristics common to the clinical problem solver: limited capacity for short-term memory; use of heuristic strategies; sequential information seeking; and problem conceptualization. Six years of development and…

A five-step hierarchy for problem solving in mathematical word problems, called SOLVE, involves Study the problem, Organize data, Line up a plan, Verify plan, and Evaluate the match. Implementing the SOLVE strategies enables teachers to assess and teach skills needed by students with mild disabilities and improves students' success rates.…

A study compared results of 2 teaching methods, traditional Socratic method (22 students) and a problem-based curriculum (35 students) in a University of Kentucky medical school surgery clerkship. Results showed the problem-based method resulted in similar knowledge level but improved clinical problem-solving skills. (Author/MSE)

Explains a problem-solving format developed by a school media specialist and first grade teacher that used the framework of Eisenberg and Berkowitz's "Big Six Skills" for library media programs. The application of the format to a science unit on the senses is described. (two references) (MES)

Shares a psychological look at student images of mathematical learning and problem solving through students' writings about mathematical experiences. The analysis is done from a Jungian psychoanalytic orientation with the goal of assisting students develop a deeper perspective from which to view their mathematics experience. (MDH)

Presents a series of challenges, problems, and examples to demonstrate the principle of mathematical induction and illustrate the many situations to which it can be applied. Applications relate to Fibonacci sequences, graph theory, and functions. (MDH)

Presents a problem-solving activity in which students are asked to find the shortest distance from one vertex of a cube to the vertex diagonally opposite by moving along the surface of the cube. Extends the problem for any rectangular solid. (MDH)

Describes results of a study of how eight social studies teachers use computer databases in social studies instruction. Examines how students employ the databases in problem solving, what they learn, and what factors held and hinder the process. Discusses the effects of time constraints, prior student knowledge, cooperative learning, and…

Results of a comparison of conventional problem-solving strategies with alternative strategies involving worked-out problems and partially worked-out problems with a completion assignment for 46 Dutch secondary school students (45 males and 1 female) support the superiority of the alternatives, particularly the completion strategy, in solving…

This article is a chapter from a book titled "Rock Writing," which emphasizes writing skills for gifted students. It focuses on consumer education with examples from language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Included are quizzes, open-ended problems, puns, advertising euphemisms, comparison pricing exercises, research problems, and…

Data management challenges at the Pennsylvania State University are discussed, including providing user access to data, developing a classification system for data elements, eliminating the manual process for creating tailored user views, and developing data dictionary user enhancements. Solutions are provided to give insight into problem solving.…