The desire for students to graduate with more than basic skills has fueled interest in performance assessment methods such as essay writing, group science experiments, or portfolio preparation. Officials in Vermont, California, Kentucky, Maryland, and other states are betting that performance assessments may prove as powerful a classroom influence…

When college teachers are explicit about specific methods and strategies involved in effective thinking, students are more likely to learn and use these skills. Labeling test questions with the thinking skills required can help students refocus their study methods, resulting in more effective thinking, problem-solving, or decision-making skills.…

Cognitive apprenticeship emphasizes a combination of authentic problem-solving experiences with expert guidance in lieu of decontextualized instruction. This article examines issues in cognitive science and describes a model of cognitive apprenticeship for providing academic instruction to students with special learning needs. (Author/DB)

Research advocating classroom use of the computer programming language LOGO is based on relatively long periods of instruction, plentiful provision of computers, and knowledgeable teachers. Recent research shows that LOGO may confuse children's understanding of angles. Considers implications for Scottish primary schools using LOGO as recommended…

Discusses effectiveness of hints given to (n=100) ninth-grade students solving nonstandard problems on functions. Hints that stimulated concrete action were effective if the action modeled the required solution method. Hints that only warned against certain mistakes were ineffective. Appendix includes problems and hints. (MKR/Author)

Five suggestions help parents teach their children to make decisions: give children tasks and choices that encourage a feeling of competence; allow children to share their opinions; give children weekly allowances and let them decide how to spend it; have children plan specific activities; and involve children in family councils. (SM)

Spanish principals are more isolated from colleagues than principals in other countries, because the school is the basic educational unit and because Spanish school directors have no structural links within the local system. This article describes the design and development of an inservice training program for Spanish administrators, highlighting…

The California Department of Education recently sponsored two studies on the needs of chronically ill children and their families. The most serious problem these children faced was feeling different. Parents were also concerned by inadequate funding, services, staffing, and staff awareness. Educators should increase their sensitivity, change…

This article describes "Thinking Actively in a Social Context," a multiphase model to assist in the development of problem-solving courses based on student needs and experiences. An example of such an interdisciplinary course (simulating a new settlement on another planet) for high ability children in grades five, six, and seven is detailed. (DB)

Presents a model that uses online searching to teach critical thinking skills in elementary and secondary education based on Bloom's taxonomy. Three levels of activity are described: analyzing a search statement; defining and clarifying a problem; and focusing an information need. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

This study examined whether numbers of unwarranted assumptions, hypotheses, and requests for additional information concerning a hypothetical case of child abuse and neglect (CAN) predicted agreement with a premature decision to remove a child from home among 141 CAN professionals. Comparison with undergraduates found that more CAN professionals…

Examines research on computers as cognitive enhancers, focusing on applications software that includes spreadsheets, graphing, and databases. Appropriate computer-based problem-solving environments for young children are reviewed, and implications for teachers are suggested. (Contains eight references.) (LRW)

Reports a case study exploring how 2 16-year olds were enabled to capitalize on the potential of errors to stimulate and support mathematical inquiry. Discusses variations within the strategy of using errors to enhance mathematics instruction. Appendix includes list of instructional episodes and error activities. (Contains 56 references.) (MKR)

A law professor explains how he came to view legal problem solving as the driving concept in law school curriculum design and draws on personal experience and a survey of students concerning teaching methods in a commercial law course. He outlines six curriculum design principles for teaching legal problem solving. (MSE)

Examined differences in cognitive and metacognitive processes of 40 high- and low-mathematics-ability students in grade 12 as they solved 5 everyday mathematics problems. Competence in problem solving was characterized by a rich knowledge base, metacognitive strategies, and confidence. Boys and girls exhibited different cognitive structures for…