"Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and Key Stage 1" reviews the best available evidence to offer five recommendations for developing the maths skills of 3-7-year olds. Recommendations include integrating maths into different activities throughout the day -- for example, at registration and snack time -- to familiarise children…

Conceptual change views of teaching and learning processes in science, and also in various other content domains, have played a significant role in research on teaching and learning as well as in instructional design since the late 1970s. An important issue is whether conceptual change can provide a powerful framework for improving instructional…

The authors suggest that simply by changing the method of questioning, a teacher can change not only the intellectual demands in the classroom, but also the range of thinking strategies that provide for understanding and competence. (KC)

Among the 12 documents selected for this annotated bibliography of documents and journal articles in the ERIC database is an expert's argument that the brain's multipath and multimodal capacities are ignored by educators. Another writer fears that the "back-to-basics" movement may have eclipsed the prominence earlier accorded to thinking…

The science learning cycle developed by Robert Karplus and others in the 1960's has been a useful model for many science teachers and researchers. This model stresses the use of structured inquiry to organize knowledge acquisition and problem solving. Recent research in the cognitive science tradition, however, has shown that learning and problem…

A review of recent studies indicates that gifted learners spontaneously produce more effective learning strategies than comparison groups and benefit from the use of more complex, externally provided strategies. Implications include the use of slower presentation rates for new information, spatial organization of prose content, and…

The journals of students in introductory college science courses give insight into the bewilderment students feel about science. Problems fall into five categories: semantics; use of symbols; inability to evaluate their own progress; difficulty in assimilating quantities of new knowledge; and cognitive overload. Students should be encouraged to…

A continuation of the exploration of the various ways that knowledge and insight are achieved. Explains that even instruction in basic skills can benefit from this appreciation. Provides descriptions of classroom activities that demonstrate how the various modes of knowing can be used for conceptual exploration. (FL)

Describes exploratory activities for a young child seeking to become acquainted with the world in which he lives. (EB)

This paper discusses the use of mediated learning which involves training given to other humans by an experienced adult who frames, selects, focuses and feeds back environmental experiences in such a manner as to create learning situations. The authors' program utilizing such an approach is described. (Author/EJT)

Research identifies two interrelated memories--one that retains facts and symbols and one that retains motor and problem-solving skills. These and other findings challenge educators to determine what students should memorize, to help them move from random memorization to creating useful concepts, and to teach students to use memory in problem…

Presents an exploratory experience that allows students an opportunity to practice science process skills and use all of their senses. Describes a fruit study activity, appropriate for grades three through six, that incorporates the learning cycle (exploration, concept development, and concept application) and cooperative learning strategies.…

Defines two interrelated educational concepts, "personal meaning" and "personal learning". The concepts are defined in terms of what a students says when asked to discuss his participation in a class. These concepts may provide educators and students with more precise ways of describing and dealing with certain dimensions of a…

Presents young children's concepts related to probability grouped by definite, possible, and definitely not. Discusses the teaching methods of the probability concepts. (YP)

Relatively simple changes in cognitive activities during prose learning can substantially affect information acquisition, yet many students' strategies are ineffective. A prose learning strategy training program using network models of long-term memory structure and depth-of-processing theory is presented with evidence of its effectiveness among…