This working group continues to develop a research program on the practice of launching mathematical tasks and its resulting impact on learners. Our research agenda contains two strands of inquiry exploring (1) theory and framework building concerning effective launches and (2) empirical examination of the link between launching and opportunities…

Though factors contributing to difficulty in learning school subjects including Mathematics were extensively studied, nature and characteristics of mathematics, possibly, one among the foremost causes for difficulty in learning it has not received required attention. To bring attention to the difficulties arising out of the nature of mathematics…

The purpose of this paper is to report how Gagne's model in "The Conditions of Learning" was adapted in order to develop activities, preobjectives, and test items for social studies concept instruction. One of the major problems in the field of social studies education is the looseness or nonspecificity of many of the definitions and…

A cooperative work group experiential format is proposed for an introductory college computer course, which views the computer as one of several components of a business information system. The system is applied to a five-step problem solving model, consisting of problem analysis, problem understanding, making decisions, designing the solution,…

Problem-based learning (PBL) is often promoted in response to the current need to offer authentic and effective professional education. PBL is a curriculum development and instructional system that simultaneously develops both problem solving strategies and disciplinary knowledge bases and skills by placing students in the active role of problem…

Mediation or conflict resolution training has been effective in a variety of settings. Using the components of the process (active listening, cooperation, acceptance of differences, creative problem solving, and empathetic responses) students learn to deal with anger and to work with others so as to arrive at solutions peacefully. Some of the…

At present, teachers' inservice training assumes an enormous importance in the realization of educational reforms in European countries. This paper describes several descriptive models for teacher training. Then, the development of inservice training is examined according to the "change paradigm" and the "problem-solving…

In introductory psychology courses, the desire to cover content can conflict with the desire to acquaint students with psychological thinking processes. The IDEAL method is a group problem solving quiz technique which addresses both of these goals. In the process, instructors choose key concepts from a given reading and divide the class into…

Robert Gagne's model as presented in "The Conditions of Learning" (1970) is modified, extended, and used to form a logical model applicable to planning and teaching the social studies. It is used to develop planning procedures and to sequence instructional activities consistent with attaining complex levels of student learning. Sample…

A classroom cognitive intervention model for adolescents and adults who are deaf is described. The model provides mediated learning experiences whereby a person assists the learner in interpreting experience and learning problem-solving strategies. The program, entitled instrumental enrichment (IE), is based on the following principles: IE uses a…

This paper describes an approach to instruction and learning processes in professional training schools using microcomputers and computer assisted instruction (CAI). It is argued that the use of computers in education changes existing approaches to teaching and learning by focusing on the structure of the information being taught, the organization…

This study examined the effects of level of instructional scaffolding on students' use of Geometer's Sketchpad and other software tools in a technology-integrated geometry curriculum. In order to revitalize education at the secondary level and in particular in the mathematics curriculum, educational reformers have advocated the incorporation of…

The goals of this study were to investigate problem-solving in a context that requires a rich interaction among social, motivational, and cognitive processes and to compare the effects of the mediated and discovery models of learning on students' problem-solving processes in the complex technology-based learning environment. Subjects were 88…

This study evaluated the mathematics and reading/language arts curriculum for grades 6 through 8 in an Illinois private school for gifted students. Emphasis was on determining whether the current curriculum meets the needs of these students and whether students are challenged to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills. Evaluation was…

This study examined student and instructor reflection upon a 2-year teacher education seminar designed to provide experiential and theoretical grounding in democratic pedagogy. Through conversation-as-research, instructors interpreted group dynamics in their conversations during breaks, lunch hours, and evenings throughout the seminar. The central…