Advance organizers may fail to promote learning even though they are approximately related to the main learning experience and internally meaningful and logical. If they are to optimize the likelihood that new materials will be readily and properly subsumed, they must also be constructed to conform to the cognitive preparedness and scholastic…

A presentation of learning experiences involving materials is recommended which reflects the sequence of the developmental stages. This sequence is concrete, concrete-abstract, pictorial-abstract, and abstract. Instructional examples at each level are presented. (JP)

Preservice teachers administered Piagetian tasks to elementary students. On the whole data collected compared favorably with the findings of Renner (EJ 044 727) in showing that students achieved conservation of substance (liquids and solids), length, area, and weight at later ages than stated by Piaget. No significant sex differences were found.…

This discussion is primarily designed to increase teachers' awareness of Piaget's theory of cognitive development and implications for mathematics in the middle school. It is hoped such awareness will compel instructors to adopt strategies that help pupils gain more from mathematical experiences, by providing impetus for innovation and…

Reviews research in the area of scientific classification of botany concepts. The acquisition, transfer, and ability to use cognitive skills were investigated. (CP)

Reasons for the development of middle schools and characteristics of middle school students are discussed. Students' physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development are considered, with references to research evidence. (MNS)

The mathematics laboratory is described as being not just the use of concrete teaching aids but involving a new philosophy of how children learn and the teacher's role in the facilitation of learning. (CP)

Students tested on their ability to apply the ratio concept in a simple problem of measurement were retested two years later; one-third showed no change in category. The data were grouped in analogy to the three developmental stages of Piaget. Additional data from a group of eighth graders did not clarify further how students arrive at…

This second part of a review on teaching science to middle school students notes Piagetian ideas related to the learning of these students and focuses on the curriculum and needs of students. (MNS)

This article supports the learning theory and intellectual development model of Jean Piaget as a theory base for science education. (Author/MK)

Discusses the role constructivist learning theory is taking in the change of teaching strategies in the science laboratory. The laboratory moves from a place where knowledge is verified to one where relationships are actively investigated through hands-on, cooperative activities. (MDH)

This study was conducted to determine the cognitive demand made by an eighth-grade science textbook. Reasoning patterns and science concepts were listed and compared. Concrete reasoning was required more often than formal reasoning, but some points of difficulty for students who are not formal reasoners were noted. (MNS)

Discusses Piaget's ideas and their influence on science class practices. Three elementary science programs are presented as teaching models based on Piaget's theory. New issues for teachers created as a result of the application of Piagetian ideas are discussed also. (HM)

Presents a learning model for science education and describes teacher interventions derived from the model to produce cognitive restructuring. Demonstrates how teacher interventions may be developed through a series of interventions, related activities, and comments. (MDH)

Presents a study to examine the effects of a verbal teaching strategy versus a strategy providing instruction using activities and manipulatives in four seventh grade earth science classes with students of varying cognitive abilities (n=83). Results indicate that students with more cognitive structures perform better and that using manipulatives…