How many times have you been stumped by a student's failure to learn? You tried everything in your tool kit, but nothing worked. Now what if there were a process that would help you pinpoint the student's specific need and design an action plan to swiftly remedy the problem? In "Solving Academic and Behavior Problems," Margaret Searle…

The title is that of a course with the same name, designed for teachers of mathematics. The rational for a course specifically on geometry was that "many of those currently teaching mathematics in school had little geometrical education". Teachers on the course experience geometry through problem solving, and learning to pose geometrical problems.…

Energy is a critical concept in physics problem-solving, but is often a major source of confusion for students if the presentation is not carefully crafted by the instructor or the textbook. In the first three articles in this series we discussed several issues related to the teaching of energy concepts. We have saved a major single issue for this…

Using an approach based on a Harvard study that found "when the whole body is involved, the number of brain cells brought to the learning activity doubles," the author offers over one hundred kinesthetic activities for classroom use. Activities are organized by content area, include directions for number of players, objective, and…

This 21st Century Skills Map is the result of hundreds of hours of research, development and feedback from educators and business leaders across the nation. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has issued this map for the core subject of English.

Preserving and enhancing the quality of the human environment requires holistic approaches to problems. Educators should encourage multi-disciplinary thought in the classroom. One area that has great potential for strengthening the integrative aspects of education is geography. (RM)

This article recommends a holistic approach to student problems in mathematics. Teachers need to be aware of all paradigms (e.g., developmental, behaviorist, psychoanalytic) explaining causes of problems in mathematics. Examples of misunderstandings resulting from insufficient knowledge, insufficient mathematical vocabulary, and overgeneralization…

Recommends the use of concealed images as tools for teaching geography. Suggests that images be used as examples of geographers' search for spatial regularities, metaphors for the quasi-religious quest for scientific truth, and fallibility of scientific citation. Argues that the purpose of geography becomes palpable to students when the concealed…

Combining both the Western perspective of creativity as productivity and the Eastern perspective of creativity as enlightenment, a Program for Enlightened and Productive Creativity (PEPC) for teaching inquiry was devised. The PEPC describes stages through which a student is guided to solve a problem using increasingly complex observation, inquiry,…

Presents two teaching ideas for mathematics instruction. The first employs "mind maps" as a method to help students learn, record, and recall mathematical information. Provides examples for solving quadratic equations and complex numbers. The second discusses two ways to find the average speed during a trip employing differing constant…

The aim and focus of holistic learning is making connections, e.g., connections between subjects or between thinking and intuition. Integrated studies implies a holistic approach to learning and a curriculum that has the capacity to combine three positions on the function of schooling: transmission of facts, skills, and values; transaction or…

Maintains that the science/technology/society movement (STS) is a megatrend in science education. Explains that STS takes a holistic, problem-solving approach toward teaching science, one that is student oriented and much more accessible than traditional approaches. Lists tables that contrast STS and traditional classes. (DB)

Discusses factors that influence the shapes of houses built in different cultures. Poses the problem of building a house with optimal floor space given a fixed amount of material for the walls. Discusses students' findings, questions raised during group discussions, and mathematical concepts utilized to solve the problem. (MDH)

Suggests that the story of humanity can be presented as human groups solving the basic problems of human existence throughout time. Contends that delineating this basic theme of history can present students with a coherent view of history. Links the individual's story to the broader view and presents a teaching unit that conceptualizes this…

Presents a unit to review geometric concepts and problem solving by having students work cooperatively to discover geometric shapes constructed from two congruent right triangles obtained from cutting a rectangle along its diagonal. Students report their findings both orally and in writing. (MDH)