This manual provides a comprehensive approach to problem solving; it is written in narrative style with numerous examples. The guide is organized in eight sections that cover the following topics: (1) problem-solving overview (with suggested readings and recommendations for schools); (2) a five-step model for solving problems; (3) strategies for…

An examination of the value of using more sophisticated computer programs in the language arts program led to the design and development of "Thinking Networks," which provide the teacher with a new tool for teaching through nonverbal representation. Using microcomputers to improve reading and writing instruction can incorporate the…

Based on the premise that exposure to science and technology is important in early childhood curricula, this guide was developed to help teachers incorporate mathematics, sciences, and technology-related activities into existing programs. Activities contained in this guide focus on concepts in the physical sciences and in the development of…

Activities and problems are interspersed with commentary in this book on the learning and teaching of mathematics. The emphasis is on helping students to enjoy mathematics through an awareness of structure and patterns. The chapter titles are as follows: (1) "My Three Sons--A Game"; (2) "The Tower Game"; (3) "Mathematical Games on a Different…

In recognition of the fact that young children develop informal number concepts and strategies for solving several basic types of verbal addition and subtraction problems before entering school, but lose this ability after a few years of schooling, the study created and tested an intervention designed to build on the children's early insights. A…

Examined were the ways peer models affect children's self-efficacy in a cognitive learning context and whether the effects of models vary depending on the sex of the subjects. Subjects were 72 fourth and fifth grade students low in subtraction skills. During pretests subjects indicated the extent to which they thought ability, effort, task…

This paper describes GUIDON-WATCH, a graphic interface that uses multiple windows and a mouse to allow a student to browse a knowledge base and view reasoning processes during diagnostic problem solving. The GUIDON project at Stanford University is investigating how knowledge-based systems can provide the basis for teaching programs, and this…

Ten management problems for chairs of small departments in small colleges are discussed, along with problem-solving strategies for these administrators. Serious disagreements within a small and intimate department may create a country club culture in which differences are smoothed over and the personal idiosyncrasies of individual members are…

Guidelines for college staff who have been assigned a new role of planning are presented. Advice for assessing the situation at the campus and developing a planning strategy is offered, and a framework for analyzing the planners' role, institutional needs, and planning activities is suggested. A bibliographic "roadmap" for the field of…

Quality circles attempt to satisfy both task and personal needs through staff involvement in solving work-related problems. This paper summarizes quality circle theory, applies it to school settings, and suggests a framework for introducing the process to educational institutions. After briefly defining quality circles, the article presents two…

An Ontario program providing sets of problem-solving activities for native French speakers helps students in grades 7-12 enrich their language proficiency in both French and English. The guides developed as part of the program emphasize language as a tool for thought, social interaction, and artistic expression, and focus on the integration of…

Problems concerning finance, faculty, and educational programs faced by George Peabody College for Teachers during 1937-1945 are examined, along with the solutions. Attention is directed to: circumstances surrounding problem identification, the background of each problem, who had responsibility for formulating each solution, other…

This research is aimed at diagnosing the problem-solving skill of elementary school children and subsequently improving their competence in early mathematics. To reach this goal, a computer assisted instruction (CAI) program on open sentences, incorporating knowledge about students' problem solving strategies and misconceptions, was constructed.…

The aim of this research was to determine whether individual differences in the use of memory and problem-solving strategies by elementary school children are related to teachers' use of strategy suggestions in the classroom. High, average, and low achievers of first- through third-grade levels (n = 38) were selected from classrooms of eight…

Three major approaches to the use of computers in education are examined, serious limitations of each are presented, and questions are raised as to the efficacy of technologolizing education. The drill and practice approach is shown to embody a deterministic, behavioral technology that turns learning into a systematically-designed and…