D. Klahr and M. Nigam (2004) make a case for the superiority of direct instruction over discovery learning in students' mastery of the control-of-variables strategy central to the scientific method. In the present work, we examine acquisition of this strategy among students of the same age as those studied by Klahr and Nigam, as well as follow…

In the form of a discussion between faceless people, this booklet concerns discovery learning and its advantages. Subjects covered in the discussions are: Introducing the Discovery Method; An Experiment with British Railways; The OECD Research Projects in U.S.A., Austria, and Sweden; How the Discovery Method Differs from Other Methods; Discovery…

Assesses the acceptance of and expressed preference for varying levels of salt in soup among children three to six years of age. (HOD)

This article examines how children's construction of relationships in exploring materials helps to explain the constructivist foundations of the Reggio Emilia approach. A quasi-naturalistic study of 12 preschool children, ages 3 and 4 years, individually exploring different kinds of collage papers reveals a range of constructivist categories…

The meaning of discovery learning or discovery method of teaching and the goals one might wish to achieve by using this method are discussed. (Author/DEP)

Describes a study of university students that examined the ability of people to learn a computer system by exploration and discusses the role of thinking aloud and reflection to obtain information about the goals of the user. Considers display-based, exploratory learning in relation to planning and problem solving. (Author/LRW)

Investigates the transfer effects produced by cued (errorless) and trial-and-error (errorful) learning of a serial motor task. (Author/DEP)

Following a brief discussion of the lack of definition and cohesion in the social studies and the curriculum, the paper argues that the reflective inquiry rationale has had the most significant influence of all the alternative rationales for the field and its curriculum. The paper presents its case in four basic sections. The first section,…

This product development report is one of 21 reports, sponsored by the U.S. Office of Education, dealing with the developmental history of a recent educational product. This report deals with Facilitating Inquiry in the Classroom, a teacher training program, focusing on instructional skills needed to stimulate and sustain students in self-directed…

Considers learning styles that were effective for students. (Author/RK)