Four papers are reviewed. They include a description of how instructional modules and small group problem-solving (PS) in a second-year plant anatomy course produced excellent PS skills and various ideas on PS in the context of chemistry. Also reviews guided-design as a strategy to help develop PS skills. (JN)

Offers examples of activities and practical ideas for the instruction of process skills in a laboratory setting. Includes suggestions for the processes of observing, comparing, inferring, collecting data, organizing data, interpreting results, identifying variables, formulating hypotheses, experimenting, predicting, and model building. (ML)

Describes a laboratory exercise that introduces physics students to graphing. Presents the program format and sample output of a computer simulation of an experiment which tests the effects of sound intensity on the crawling speed of a snail. Provides students with practice in making exponential or logarithmic graphs. (ML)

Outlines various misconceptions about problem-solving (PS) and several strategies to improve intellectual skills and strategies. Also describes the Covington Productive Thinking Program (designed to help develop PS skills) and several lesson problem sets from this series of 15 books. (JN)

Suggests criteria to be used in selecting problem-solving activities and criteria to be considered in choosing media, exercises, and problems for the development of problem-solving skills. Provides perspectives on developing creativity and includes a chart on how thinking and attitude components relate. Also lists related reference materials. (ML)

Provides a listing of recently published books on problem solving and life skills. Reviews articles and ideas related to the teaching of problem solving. Discusses the instructional implications of research in cognitive psychology. (ML)

Describes a Hebrew University program for academically disadvantaged students, focusing on a workshop component which emphasizes learning skills and study strategies. An evaluation of the workshop indicates that it leads to improved achievement in several academic fields (including the natural sciences). (DH)

Describes a course taught at Auburn University (AL) for middle school students. Includes rationale for the course, instructional strategies used, comments on skill building, and descriptions of individual activity stations. Possible spin-offs from such a class which can improve science teaching in the public school classroom are also considered.…

Discusses the results of a study on the limitations of short-term memory in terms of its implications for the teaching of chemistry and problem-solving skills. Also includes a description of the Saskatchewan life skills program for disadvantaged adults for coping with change. (ML)