In recent years, researches had shown that the development of problem solving skill became important for education, and the educational robots are capable for promoting students not only understand the physical and mathematical concepts, but also have active and constructive learning. Meanwhile, the importance of situation in education is rising,…

This is one of a series that is a collection of translations from the extensive Soviet literature of the past 25 years on research in the psychology of mathematics instruction. It also includes works on methods of teaching mathematics directly influenced by the psychological research. Selected papers and books considered to be of value to the…

A list of heuristics for elementary school children is provided. Two examples which are viewed to demonstrate the conscientious and creative use of problem-solving strategies by fourth graders are detailed. Suggestions for teachers on how to help pupils develop their problem-solving abilities are included. (MP)

Eight boys and eight girls from a rural elementary school participated in the investigation. Specific heuristics were adopted from Polya; and the students selected represented two substages of Piaget's concrete operational stage. Five hypotheses were generated, based on observed results and the study's theoretical rationale. (MP)

This study illustrates a process for selecting a preferred model in the validation of hierarchical learning scales. The test performance of 100 8-to 11-year-old children on subtraction tasks involving variations in borrowing are examined. Goodman's response scaling technique is illustrated. (Author/GDC)

Children in the response-cost condition required more trials to reach a performance criterion and exhibited longer response times than children receiving reinforcement only. Response cost appeared to produce a negative effect that interfered with problem solving ability. (Author/RL)

In elementary grades, word problems that cannot be solved by a routine application of a single arithmetic operation can cause a great deal of difficulty. The role of several factors in children's performance when solving two-step problems of a given structure was probed. (Author/MP)

Research was viewed as needed to establish a classification scheme for the major areas of difficulties individual students have in solving word problems. The results suggest that inability to read problems is a major obstacle for sixth graders, and mastery of components of problem solving ensures process mastery. (MP)

This study investigated the relationship between several Piagetian abilities and an information processing capacity, and first-grade children's performance on verbal addition and subtraction problems. Results pointed to a sometimes small but consistent relationship between possession of a cognitive ability and solving an arithmetic problem. (MP)

Performance was contrasted on mathematical story problems in two formats, a drawn version and the usual verbal one, with 262 fifth graders. The drawn format resulted in superior problem-solving performance. There was a significant ATI between field independence-dependence and format treatments, although the overall treatment effects were not…

Incorporating problem solving as an integral part of mathematics programs in the classroom is discussed. The teacher's focus is seen as stretching pupil thinking. (MP)

Results of mathematics education research in problem solving activities of third-grade children are covered. The assumption that the horizontal number sentence is a useful tool for solving verbal problems is questioned. (MP)

Briefly reviews Piagetian theory of cognitive development and discusses how this theory supports such instructional strategies as individualized activities, inquiry learning, and problem solving. (MLH)

Cognitive load theory was explored in 3 conditions among 96 third graders in nonisomorphic analogical transfer (problems do not have identical structures, constraints, and problem spaces). Conditions under which children best adjust the base to the target are discussed, and implications for transfer are reviewed. (SLD)

Reported is a study to examine the effects of bilingualism on the ability to formulate scientific hypotheses or solutions to science problems by examining results of the same treatment motivating hypothesis formation given by the same teacher to classes of sixth-grade students ranging from monolingual English-speaking children to proficient…