The purpose of this study is to clarify for what students do generalize something in learning mathematics. In this study, we make a distinction between generalization and extension, and focus on the function of generalization in terms of its meaning, purpose, and usefulness. Through reviewing literature on generalization and philosophical…

The authors purport that before teaching tasks to individuals with severe learning problems, it may be necessary to deliberately plan for and systematically evaluate the factors of selective attention, information feedback, retention, and generalization for each lesson. (Author/SBH)

Students often fail to apply knowledge and skills learned in one context to other situations. Although the implicit assumption in educational practice has been that transfer takes care of itself, a knowledge of the mechanisms of transfer can enable educators to help their students integrate general and local knowledge. (TE)

This paper demonstrates a method for constructing long variables using items that elicit partically correct responses across ages. Long variables may be defined by students at different ages (year levels) attempting common items within a test containing other items considered to be appropriate for each age or year level. A developmental model of…

Effects of object training and photograph training on comprehension of category labels by 10 severely mentally retarded children and adolescents were explored. Results indicated that acquisition and transfer did not differ, yet generalization was significantly more accurate with objects than with photographs. Futhermore, generalization was…

The first of two articles, featuring innovations and research on programs for learning disabled students in middle and high schools, reports expected goals and actual outcomes on intervention programs, identifies seven components for inclusion in a comprehensive intervention model, and focuses on the motivation, acquisition (of information), and…

The learning of categories by six severely handicapped students (8 to 18 years old) was measured within the context of manual sign training. As expected, results supported the best example theory of categorization which suggests that some objects are more representative of their category than others. Implications for classroom material selection…

This volume attempts to bring together a collection of reports on the Geometric Supposer, a series of computer software environments which can be a tool for exploring particulars and generalizations in geometry. The book contains the following chapters: (1) "A Personal View of the Supposer: Reflections on Particularities and Generalities in…

The presuppositions that favor firsthand experience over secondhand information, as pertaining to learning and education, are questioned. It is noted that, when education and firsthand experience are described as if equivalent, a presumption is made that a commonsense theory of knowledge and mind is valid. Research on the social psychology of…

An analysis of racial prejudice employing the learning processes of discimination and generalization is presented. It is suggested that the generalization process can help to explain the problem involved in racial prejudice. Voluntary interaction between the races is necessary for prejudice to be overcome. (Author)

People use and extend their knowledge of the physical world constantly. Understanding how this fluency is achieved would be an important milestone in understanding human learning and intelligence, as well as a useful guide for constructing machines that learn. This paper presents a theoretical framework that is being developed in an attempt to…