The concept of general education, its specific goals, and its role in the college curriculum are discussed. The goals of general education appear to center around teaching students to think analytically and to synthesize ideas into a general understanding. It is suggested, however, that these objectives tend to get lost in the specifics of…

Based on the premise that the fairy tale genre can be effectively used as the content base for teaching reading, writing, and thinking skills and processes, this book offers educators ideas and techniques that promote multiple intelligences, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and problem- and product-based learning. Drawing on Bloom's…

The knowledge that students bring to the classroom has been a well-studied domain. The types of knowledge studied have included content knowledge as well as epistemological beliefs that students hold. This study focuses specifically on preservice elementary education students' understanding of science and science learning as a meaning-making…

Discusses the need to consider the cognitive models of students and their learning processes when designing computer tutorials, and describes a tutorial designed to teach students how to generate algebraic equations for story problems. Testing and revisions of the tutorial, with both college and high school students are described. (14 references)…

A physics/chemistry teacher examined how brain-based learning environments could produce better learning conditions for students. He used thematic teaching, enriched language, naturally complex, long-term design and construction projects, and multifaceted assessment tools. The one-year curriculum indicated that teachers need not sacrifice content…

Interviews with 72 mixed ability students, aged 7 to 12, about arithmetic problem-solving strategies, indicated that the preference between procedural and deductive strategies becomes a divergent reality across ability levels. Among the conclusions is that more able children tend to be doing a qualitatively different sort of mathematics than their…

Presents a summary of the theory of multiple intelligences in the context of developmental learning. Emphasizes the implications of the theory for assessment, including a strong argument against standardized testing. Describes various methods to engage and assess the pluralistic abilities of each individual and cites practical examples such as…

Background: Solving ill-structured problems is an important aspect in many professions, including the teaching profession. It is therefore appropriate to engage pre-service teachers in solving ill-structured problems. Aim: This study investigates the ill-structured problem-solving processes in an un-moderated asynchronous discussion for one group…

A study examined two dimensions of higher-order problem-solving skills: the ability to solve problems in an embedded context and the attitudes and preferences toward problem solving that suggest vocational self-understanding. The variables of gender and field-dependence cognitive style were used. Subjects were 238 secondary school marketing…

This study examined children's problem solving strategies by testing the verbal and mathematical abilities of 52 second-grade and 51 fourth-grade students. After being identified as either reflective or impulsive, based on Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures Test, the children were given grade-appropriate mathematical and verbal reasoning problems…

The purpose of the workshop described in this paper was to teach educators to understand the differences in learning/teaching styles and how to apply that understanding to the professional routine and to conflict management and problem solving tasks. The Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Model (TLC) used in the workshop applies Jung's research on…

An approach to writing in a college-level English as a second language (ESL) course is based on recent emphasis in research on the processes involved and strategies used in the various areas of human endeavor. Recent research in writing has indicated that effective and unfrustrated writers carry out the writing task in ways that are very different…

The use of standardized tests and test data to detect and address differences in cognitive styles is advocated here. To this end, the paper describes the componential theory of intelligence addressed by Sternberg et. al. This theory defines the components of intelligence by function and level of generality, including: (1) metacomponents: higher…

A study was conducted at the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) to examine gender differences with respect to mathematical problem-solving ability, visual spatial ability, abstract reasoning ability, field independence/dependence, independent learning style, and developmental problem-solving ability (i.e., formal reasoning ability). Subjects…

This report presents the results of the second year of a training program designed to help preschool kindergarten children who are deficient in interpersonal cognitive problem-solving (ICPS) skills. The ICPS skills have been demonstrated to indicate good or poor behavioral adjustment, defined in terms of the reflectivity/impulsivity dimension of…