This study analyzed the effect of a learning philosophy assignment on students' intellectual development and mastery of first-year biology and second-year biochemistry course content. We used pre- and post-surveys to assess students' cognitive complexity, and compared students' midterm and final exam marks to assess mastery of course content. The…

Suggests that students who reason with only concrete thinking patterns may become formal thinkers through the use of the following instructional pattern: (1) the introduction of an undifferentiated whole, (2) differentiation of the whole through concrete experiences, (3) invention of symbolic notation, (4) application of concepts which lead to…

Reviewed is research concerning cognitive development of entering college students; the implications for teaching biology and evaluating instructional materials are discussed. (SL)

The author examines current techniques used to teach elementary school children how to analyze and compare. Emphasis is placed upon developing these modes of mental activity while teaching biological concepts. (DE)

Introduces biology teachers to the central ideas of Piaget's theory of intellectual development. Also presents a scheme of biology instruction and classroom procedures based on a Piaget-related theory of learning. (PEB)

Provides evidence to support the conclusion that relationships exist among Piagetian levels of intellectual development, intelligence quotient, content achievement, and inquiry skills in ninth and tenth grade biology students (N=92). (DS)

Examined influence of teaching methods on content achievement of concrete and formal concepts by students differing in level of operational thought and influence of concrete/formal teaching on the intellectural development of students (N=86 grade 9-10 biology students). Methodology, results, conclusions, and implications are discussed. (Author/JN)

Purposes of this study were to (1) develop an instrument requiring several classification activities; (2) investigate the correlation between classification ability and intelligence scores of junior high school students (N=365); and (3) determine if classification ability differs with age and gender. Findings included a significant correlation…