The authors outline a cognitive and computational account of causal learning in children. They propose that children use specialized cognitive systems that allow them to recover an accurate "causal map" of the world: an abstract, coherent, learned representation of the causal relations among events. This kind of knowledge can be perspicuously…

Describes the Thinking Network approach and the cognitive mapping strategy used in a rural Mississippi school district to increase students' content acquisition and theme conceptualization of textbook units. Notes that the district's pass rate for state-mandated written communication, reading comprehension, and written essay tests dramatically…

Explores the significance of concept mapping for education and curriculum development. Discusses two main streams in curriculum paradigms and important processes, and the functions which concept mapping can have in education and curriculum development. Examines why students in educational institutions don't yet make systematic use of concept maps,…

Emphasizes that it is learning processes, rather than learning outcomes, which allow individuals to tackle new tasks, solve new problems, and learn new skills. Discusses the importance of metacognitive knowledge and skills in cognitive processing and life-long learning. (RAE)

Provides theoretical evidence supporting the assumption that cognitive mapping is an effective learning method for students' hypermedia design activities. Checks the effects of student hypermedia design assignments in an ill-structured environment against the uniqueness of cognitive mapping, mapping styles, and cognitive mapping as a creative…

This paper identifies five difficulties in teaching the analysis of social problems, and proffers "mind maps," a concept that refers to the ways in which students create a visual representation of their thinking patterns, as a possible solution. In constructing mind maps, especially for a Social Problems course, the following four steps…