Describes the "Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Project" which has now sent more than 70 volunteer teacher educators into 20 countries across Central Europe and Central Asia to help teachers to try out methods that foster active learning and critical thinking. Discusses support for the project, teaching strategies introduced,…

Describes a whole language learning unit based on group investigation. The task is an authentic task and includes a problem that requires solving as well as step-by-step guidelines for collecting, organizing, and presenting data. The sample unit is developed around the topic of animals. (Author/VWL)

Two experiments related structure of a task to underlying cognitive mechanisms. Found that 3-year olds were no better at predicting behavior from partially true beliefs than from entirely false beliefs. Three- and 4-year olds, and autistic children had distinct performance profiles across tasks. Concluded that conceptual foundations for a…

This study examined permanence of training given to preschool children for solving their interpersonal problems. Preliminary assessment after training showed a significant improvement in problem-solving abilities. However, evaluation completed 1 year later showed a decreased score on the test, suggesting that the preschoolers needed continuous…

Explores the role of software tools in geometry problem solving and how these tools, in interaction with activities that embed the goals of teachers and students, mediate the problem solving process. Through analysis of successful student responses, shows how dynamic software tools can not only scaffold the solution process but also help students…

Describes and evaluates a package of measures designed to introduce a collaborative problem-solving (CPS) approach to learning tutorials of a second-year university macroeconomics subject. Presents findings related to the influence of CPS on tutors' teaching experiences, students' attitudes attendance and hours of study, and academic achievement.…

This article argues that the reason the mathematics performance of students with mild disabilities is so limited is the mathematics. Using illustrations from subtraction, the article proposes number sense be a primary goal and that within the realm of number sense, big ideas be included among the dependent variables. (Contains references.)…

Four preschool children who exhibited aggressive methods for resolving social interaction conflicts were taught a problem-solving strategy. Results found that acquisition of the problem-solving strategy influenced the types of alternative solutions the children provided to social interaction conflicts. Students produced more prosocial resolutions…

Examines quantitative models in school physics, looking particularly at the degree to which they match the real world. Explores the positive aspects of a mismatch between models and real world conditions. (DDR)

Presents three science activities for the first week of class that use the cooperative learning approach and computers. Requires students to create a web page to introduce group members. (YDS)

Examines ideas on a thinking curriculum and "learning to learn" in the secondary education context. Explores computing studies at the Scottish secondary 3/4 level with 14- to 16-year-olds. Explains that this case study provides an example of the infusion approach being incorporated into the teaching of computer programming. (CMK)

Examined whether the social organization of problem solving of Guatemalan Mayan indigenous mothers and children varied with the mothers' school experience. Found that mothers with little schooling were involved more in horizontal, multiparty engagements while solving a puzzle with three children, whereas mothers with extensive schooling were…

Examined relations between representational models of mother-child relationships of mothers and children ages 14 to 52 months (some diagnosed with cerebral palsy or epilepsy) and maternal characteristics, child disability status, and maternal behavior in a problem-solving task. Found that representations are related to caregiving behavior apart…

This study assessed use of five computerized analogy problems as a measure of mental speed with 62 children (ages 3-13) with mild/moderate mental retardation. Results found medium to high correlation between scores on the tasks and other cognitive measures and the adaptive behavior scale. The value of assessing cognitive speed in the cognitive…

Uses a scenario-based assessment tool in two environmental geoscience in-service programs for middle school and high school teachers serving both to guide instructional techniques and as a method to evaluate the success of the instructional approach. Includes a hypothetical watershed scenario in which participants had to choose monitoring sites…