Teachers' abilities to design mathematics lessons are related to their capability to mobilize resources to meeting intended learning goals based on their noticing. In this process, knowing how teachers consider Students' thinking is important for understanding how they are making decisions to promote student learning. While teaching, what teachers…

Critically analyzes a definition of creativity and concludes that the concept of creativity is illusive and undefinable. (JR)

Reports on two investigations examining students' thinking processes with regard to functions. Concludes that students often relied on a table or some variation of a table as a cognitive link advancing the development of their reasoning about underlying function relationships. (Author/MM)

Reviews the learning theories of Robert Gagne and David Ausubel, and applies these theories to the three most common approaches to teaching division of fractions: common denominator, complex fraction, and inverse operation methods. Such analysis indicates the inverse approach should be most effective for meaningful teaching, as is verified by…

Reviews two aspects of research related to audio-tutorial instructional methods. First, the learning theory of David P. Ausebel is summarized and applied to instructional procedures. Secondly, learning time for attainment of concept and knowledge levels is discussed. Concludes that studies are needed on designs based on Ausebel's theory,…

Children may perform computational operations readily when dealing with physical materials, but may have difficulty dealing with representational stimuli (pictures of objects) or symbolic stimuli. Describes and illustrates the function of mediators in moving from physical to representational or symbolic stimuli. (PR)

Numerous mathematical examples are presented which illustrate and raise questions about students' tendencies to overgeneralize. (BB)

Reports the results of a study in which children below the age of eleven were tested on their ability to perform several tasks of class inclusion and a task relating to the conservation of weight. (JR)

Describes one instructor's approach to incorporating simulations and classroom discussions into a differential equations course. Discusses subsequent effects on student learning attitudes and outcomes in conceptualizing and applying ideas regarding solutions to differential equations in this learning environment. Explores issues on…

Discussed is the effectiveness of using analogies in chemistry instruction. Students' mathematics anxiety, spatial visualization skill, and proportional reasoning ability were found to be important aptitudes for determining chemistry achievement. The relationship between analogs and algorithms is described. (KR)

Reports misconceptions identified in students with respect to the topic of parallel lines and the teaching strategies found to be useful in challenging those misconceptions. (11 references) (MDH)

Discusses the role of teacher questioning in the development of a child's concepts of and about mathematics. Proposes the development of mathematical concepts and procedures in problem-solving situations through questioning that engages student thinking and decision making. (MDH)

Presents a study to determine the effects of introducing methods students to the "learning cycle" technique on their ability to adapt science textbooks to the method and employ it in their teaching. Interviews of 24 randomly selected students out of 48 participants indicated that 75 percent used the approach while student teaching and…