This study demonstrates an existence proof for "productive failure": engaging students in solving complex, ill-structured problems without the provision of support structures can be a productive exercise in failure. In a computer-supported collaborative learning setting, eleventh-grade science students were randomly assigned to one of…

For the past 3 yr, faculty at the University of New Mexico, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have been using interactive online Problem-Based Learning (PBL) case discussions in our large-enrollment classes. We have developed an illustrative tracking method to monitor student use of problem-solving strategies to provide targeted…

This is a quasi-experimental study that explored the effects of reflective learning on prospective teachers' conceptual understanding, critical thinking, problem solving, and mathematical communication skills and the relationship of these variables. It involved 60 prospective teachers from two basic mathematics classes of an institution of higher…

Pedagogy and assessment are critical aspects of classroom teaching at all educational levels. Although training in these areas is often a primary focus of university programs preparing pre-service teachers, it is not necessarily part of the training for university faculty. Using survey methodology, this descriptive study investigated the…

Life Skills Education (LSE) is a novel promotional program that teaches generic life skills through participatory learning methods of games, debates, role-plays, and group discussion. Conceptual understanding and practicing of the skills occurs through experiential learning in a non-threatening setting. Such initiatives provide the adolescent with…

An examination of the effectiveness of a group leader given varying levels of leader-to-group agreement on issues. (CH)

Problem solving groups have helped young pupils to solve their social and behavioral problems. Examples of students' progress are offered and the program's expansion is described. (CL)

The adversary system is a bad bargain for everybody, these authors believe, since insecurity and fear are the results. They describe an approach they found successful and recommend that teachers and students also use it. (Editor)

This article describes and evaluates a problem solving procedure in which senior executives, accompanied by a personnel or employee relations officer, conduct informal give and take sessions with small groups of employees. (LY)

A case history of an organizational development project at American Airlines. (EB)

TWENTY-SIX GROUPS OF FIVE SUBJECTS EACH WERE STUDIED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF FEEDBACK ON SUBSEQUENT GROUP BEHAVIOR. EACH GROUP WAS GIVEN TEN PROBLEMS, EACH TO BE SOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, BEFORE AND AFTER A DISCUSSION PERIOD. THE USE OF AN ANALOG COMPUTER PERMITTED THE EXPERIMENTER TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE FIRST SOLUTION BEFORE THE DISCUSSION BEGAN…

Describes and discusses a combinatorics exploration occurring in a recent course to help characterize the kind of learning communities to establish with students. (Author/MKR)

Purpose--To illuminate the importance of the communal deliberative process, as a form of collective thinking, in overcoming the growing complexities of schoolwork in uncertain and turbulent environments. Design/methodology/approach-- Introduces the notion of deliberation as evolved from Dewey's moral theory, the essential phases and elements of…

Focuses on various levels of diabetic patients' involvement in the care of their disease and effects of these levels on how closely they later followed self-care programs. Suggests that by participating in group discussions about excuses for not following a self-care regimen, and offering solutions to counter those excuses, diabetic patients…