Preliminary results from a study of students' conceptions in introductory rotational physics are discussed. Analyses of data from problem solving interviews and written diagnostic tests provided evidence that many students had a poor qualitative understanding of torque. Even among students who answered questions correctly a percentage did so for…

This monograph examines the issues surrounding the educational movement toward emphasizing critical thinking in our schools. The emergence of the critical thinking movement in education in today's schools is discussed in the light of the historical role of schools in our society and the developing complexity of educational needs. The concept of…

This report examines cooperative learning in the Central Elementary School, a special demonstration school in a cooperative project between the Snohomish, Washington School District and Western Washington State University. After reporting the research findings on cooperative learning approaches identified in "Effective Schooling Practices: A…

A study investigated the effects on students' cognitive development of a freshman composition course in which reading, writing, and discussion were integrated in an attempt to increase students' awareness of ambiguities, uncertainties, and complexities. The design of the one-semester course was derived from William Perry's theory of…

The American-born and -educated director of an international elementary and secondary school for gifted children in South Africa uses her 40 years of experience to explore the needs of gifted children and the goals of gifted education. The school provided an American-based educational program and English language instruction to a multilingual,…

The "Seven S" framework developed by Pascale and Athos can be adapted to encompass both the technical and philosophical dimensions of organizational problem solving. For a community college, the seven elements of the model would be: (1) Superordinate goals--the significant meanings and guiding concepts that make up the philosophy of a…

This booklet designed for students in grades 4-8 provides 52 activities, including puzzles and problems. Activities range from simple to complex, giving learners practice in finding patterns, numeration, permutation, and problem solving. Calculators should be available, and students should be encouraged to discuss solutions with classmates,…

An educational program was developed to assist family groups with adolescent diabetics to improve their problem-solving skills. The program is based on theoretical assumptions and research findings from a study of family problem-solving, which involved nine intact, well-functioning families (five families with a diabetic adolescent and four…

This chapter explains how the Guided Design method of teaching can be used to solve problems, and how this method was used in the development of a new method of teaching. Called the Feedback Lecture, this method is illustrated through an example, and research data on its effectiveness is presented. The Guided Decision-Making Process is also…

Educators concerned with effectiveness outcomes have become increasingly involved with participative organizational and teaching practices designed to improve school climate. Since schools have traditionally emphasized "top down" management and decision-making procedures, few school districts have the experience or expertise to develop…

The teaching of problem solving begins the moment a child first enters school and the senior high school plays a major role in the development of this skill since a number of students terminate their formal education at the end of this period. This book combines suggestions for the teaching of problem solving with activities, problems, and…

How successfully a student responds to the stresses of college life depends on several factors, including the time of onset, the degree of perceived threat, and the student's repertoire of coping skills. This study was conducted to determine if personal adaptability or ego-strength in college students could be predicted from knowledge of…

A formally conducted field study was used to investigate the work of vice-principals of eight large Southern California high schools and the relationship of their work to the school as an organization. Most of the vice-principals studied deal with student discipline, but four have important discipline responsibilities, which they exercise by…

A computer assisted system called PEERRATE was used in a theater history course at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in Newark, in fall 1980, in order to give students an opportunity to anonymously grade one another's written work and to compare their own ratings with those of fellow students and the instructor. The PEERRATE system is a…

Students with personal-social problems report seeking help from friends and relatives first, as compared to faculty, clergy, and counseling centers. To investigate the subsequent referrals friends might provide, 28 college freshmen, 14 male and 14 female, rated 16 problem descriptions on a 0-9 point scale according to the likelihood that they…