Explores the idea that play is one of the fundamental processes by which children develop their understanding of the world by looking at play as an intrinsically motivated activity. (WRM)

In four experiments involving 357 undergraduates, students who read expository passages with seductive details (interesting but irrelevant details) recalled fewer main ideas and generated fewer problem-solving transfer solutions than those who read passages without seductive details. Results suggest that seductive details may prime inappropriate…

Explains tendencies and difficulties experienced by students aged 14 through 17 years during an activity involving measurement in physics. Surveys these tendencies and difficulties through clinical interviews involving data collection, data processing, and data interpretation. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Reports on the design and study of a new computerized environment enabling a variety of metacognitive supports in different phases of the problem-solving process and designed to influence students' metacognition during word problem-solving. Results indicate that learning environments that provide metacognitive support during the solution process…

Techniques described in this article provide teachers with tools to understand the mental processes that students engage in as they read, write, and problem solve. Use of these techniques may also encourage students to become more active participants in their education. The techniques include journals and learning logs, clinical interviews, and…

This article presents research on students' understanding of basic concepts in Graph Theory. Students' understanding is analyzed through the lens of the theoretical framework of reducing abstraction (Hazzan, 1999). As it turns out, in spite of the relative simplicity of the concepts that are introduced in the introductory part of a traditional…

Recently, the importance of an everyday context in physics learning, teaching, and problem-solving has been emphasized. However, do students or physics educators really want to learn or teach physics problem-solving in an everyday context? Are there not any obstructive factors to be considered in solving the everyday context physics problems? To…

Background: Teaching styles in physical education (PE) found prominence through Muska Mosston's teaching styles "Spectrum" model. Mosston's Spectrum has been remarkably successful and its logic currently underpins the conceptualisation of teaching styles in many PE practices in Western education systems, including those in the United…

With technology advances, computer software becomes increasingly difficult to learn. Adults often rely on software training to keep abreast of these changes. Instructor-led software training is frequently used to teach adults new software skills; however there is limited research regarding the best practices in adult computer software training.…

Students better understand problem solving when the basis for the problems are real-life situations. This book, geared for grades 4-8, offers multi-step, real-life problems to encourage students to think flexibly, creatively, and analytically about problem solving. It includes ideas for setting up a problem-solving classroom and assessment…

Processes of solving an ill-structured problem were studied. Eight individuals (recent graduates and participants in a teacher education program) learned about a fictitious vehicle, and then designed instruction about it. The individuals were relative novices in instructional design, because of a small amount of professional training in the…

This module on planning skills contains the product development unit in a manufacturing course for grades 10, 11, and 12. The module helps students develop thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills and acquire knowledge relating to creation, retrieval, and use of information found on common project plans. The content outline includes the…

A study investigated developments in reasoning and memory as reflected by the discovery strategies of children taking part in a manipulative categorization and recall task. A total of 40 children (8 each of 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 months of age) participated. Stimulus materials consisting of blocks, toy plates, discs, and plastic trees were…

Cognitive processes and knowledge structures used in physics problem-solving at the high school or freshmen college level were investigated by analysis of expert and novice human problem-solving behavior and by development of computer programs which can solve informally-stated physics problems. Computer representations for the information…

The research project described will identify the component skills (cognitive processes and associated knowledge structures) required for effective problem-solving, and identify the kinds of learning which can improve problem-solving ability. These areas will be investigated by means of a computer program which can solve physics problems stated in…