The purpose of this paper is to open lines of thinking about discovery learning not tried before. This effort is a strident attempt to establish new insights and outlooks that will improve the language, theory, and practices connected with this teaching method. (Author/MK)

Describes physiological, affective, and cognitive mechanisms by which didactic and discovery methods appear to work, as revealed by research literature. The optimal instructional method depends on the instructional objective, the educator's skills, and the nature of the students. Suggests more use of discovery methods. (69 references) (Author/MKR)

Describes three major difficulties plaguing most discovery-learning teaching systems and presents a theoretical operational approach for offsetting these difficulties. (SL)

Reports a study of attitudes of children who received process approach oriented instruction versus textbook oriented instruction. Based on children's responses to questionnaires, it was found that children in the experimental group were more positive in their attitudes towards science and related activities. (PS)

The study indicated that evaluation of curriculum in elementary schools can be facilitated greatly if behavioral tasks are used as criteria for measurement. Experimental subjects who received process oriented instruction achieved significantly higher scores on desired outcomes than did control subjects who received content oriented instruction.…

Describes an activity in which students, grades 7-12, explore patterns and properties of repunits, an integer written as a string of ones. Includes extensions for exploring algebraic justifications. (MKR)

Describes three activities that the teacher can employ to help students develop thinking skills through mathematics instruction: (1) memorization using the technique of chunking; (2) higher order thinking with magic squares; and (3) predicting games. Identifies eight facets of the teacher's role in promoting thinking skills. (MDH)

Proposes that problem scenarios are activities that give students opportunities to employ mathematics across the curriculum by asking them to define problems, identify information needed and potential sources of data, and make related conjectures. Discusses an example of a scenario involving transportation. (MDH)

Reports development and results of the Kramer Project, a two-year study of the implementation of a problem-solving, activity-based mathematics program in the elementary grades. Describes the mathematical content covered, participating teachers, instructional materials employed, inservice teacher training provided, and academic achievement gains of…

Provides a rationale for a learning environment in science classrooms that integrates science, mathematics, and technology while solving authentic problems. Describes activities that can be used in such an environment and presents data regarding students' attitudes toward the described activities. (MDH)