Games have long been used as instructional tools, but actual research examining that concept has been sparse. Increased sophistication and lower cost in hardware and software for personal computers has created a budding movement to incorporate computer games into learning environments. This paper discusses criteria for selecting an instructional…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the changes in middle school teachers' planning of science activities during a teacher enhancement project that involved problem-solving instruction and classroom implementation of a problem-solving curriculum model. The model reflected the cognitive science perspective and integrated the…

This book is designed to offer an overall paradigm for designing instruction related to multimedia. Each chapter explores the paradigm through literature reviews, lists of pertinent questions, case studies, guidelines, and resource suggestions. The first two parts discuss defining an instructional problem and generating solutions via multimedia…

This book explores how teachers use class meetings for a variety of purposes, from planning for a substitute teacher to planning a science unit. It also looks at how students can use class meetings to set class goals and monitor their progress in achieving them, to reflect on accumulated learning, and to solve common problems such as teasing,…

The scientific method originated centuries ago, but it is taught only to a limited degree in science classes. It is proposed that the scientific method is not just a method for scientists, but also offers a general approach to problem definition and solving and serves as a guide to problem prevention and solution-challenging. The Scientific Method…

This paper describes a National Science Foundation-sponsored project at Louisiana Technological University to develop computer-based laboratories for "hands-on" introductions to major topics of computer science. The underlying strategy is to develop structured laboratory environments that present abstract concepts through the use of…

The last decade has seen the development of a number of computer-based interactive physics programs at the university level. Set in a cognitive apprenticeship framework, such programs view the instructor as a mentor, and the essential learning constructed in a collaborative process. It is expected that such programs, grounded as they are in…

An important mandate of higher education is to provide students with the skills and strategies required to become self-regulating lifelong learners. This paper analyzes and interprets data gathered from two instructional settings both of which have been structured to promote self-regulated or self-directed learning. It includes an interpretation…

This study examined the impact of different styles of parental communication and teaching on children's problem solving, focusing on how parental teaching and communication styles affected children's performance on four problem-solving games involving deduction/categorization and planning. Thirty-two children ages 4 and 5 years and their families…

"Thinking Science," the Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) curriculum, is a program designed for 11-14 year olds (in the first two years of secondary school) which encourages them to reflect on their own thinking and to develop their reasoning power in tackling novel problems. This study presents results that represent the…

This volume has been assembled to show what can be learned about learning from large groups of children's responses to well-constructed assessment questions. The wide range of information gathered through the Basic Skills Testing Program (BSTP) has been divided into chapters that focus either on key aspects of mathematics or the major concerns of…

With few exceptions, the development of adult intelligence assessment instruments has proceeded along the lines of the Binet-Simon tests for children, stressing psychological assessment over the evaluation of what an individual knows. These tests, developed over 90 years ago, were quite effective in predicting school success, but were much less…

Graduate programs in educational administration often do not accurately portray the realities of the job. This paper describes an approach by which administrators and those in training interviewed experienced educational administrators and then used the interview transcripts to write a story of leadership. Ten administrators were interviewed. The…

Experience shows that teamwork produces powerful results. Working in a team environment, however, presents its own set of challenges. This handbook provides U.S. Department of Education managers and employees with guidance to develop high-performing teams. Based on input from agency employees throughout the country, the handbook was designed to…

One of a series of workplace education modules, this 6-week module presents activities and materials designed to lead participants through a systematic approach to problem-solving in the workplace. Following a brief overview, indicating that the module emphasizes five phases in problem-solving (i.e., using key problem-solving concepts, identifying…