The research described in this paper is concerned with conceptual learning in disadvantaged children. The various studies discussed were concerned with the current learning capacity of the subjects. The tasks presented consisted of inductive concept problems. Subjects were provided with various experiences and the effects of these procedures on…

An introduction to the theory of algorithms reviews the theoretical issues of teaching algorithms, the logical and psychological problems of devising algorithms of identification, and the selection of efficient algorithms; and then relates all of these to the classroom teaching process. It also descirbes some major research on the effectiveness of…

The two major objectives of this study were: (1) to develop techniques for quantifying and evaluating properties of a "learning context" (i.e., a sequence of observations generated by subjects in solving a problem), and (2) to determine whether or not there is a relationship between properties of observational sequences generated in solving a…

This study was conducted to determine whether efficiency in concept attainment can be increased as a function of the interaction of the use of good negative instances and increased attention as defined in terms of risk conditions. Subjects were 36 ninth-grade students of average problem solving ability as determined by IQ. Six treatment groups…

A series of experiments, all concerned with the topic of mathematical concept learning by the young child, were conducted. The concept mainly focused upon was that of inequalities. Five experiments were run. These are: (1) acquisition of mathematical concepts under experimental situation and in traditional pedagogical situation, (2) cued vs.…

Taking as the point of departure the landmark work, "A Study of Thinking" (Bruner et al. 1956), this research attempts an analysis of the notion of problem-solving strategy, suggests criteria that may be employed to validate the claim that a certain type of behavior is a strategy, and illustrates the use of the criteria. (Author/RK)

An elementary school teacher demonstrates that one method for helping his students learn is to ask them for suggestions on how "not" to learn. The process was used as a writing assignment, to teach basketball, to make a film, and to motivate teachers. (RK)

The use of an elaborative process by kindergarten children in the performance of verbally presented arithmetic addition problems was investigated. A static rather than dynamic verbally described relation between stimulus sets resulted in more correct responses for two of nine Developmental Level X Prompt Condition groups, supporting the use of…

The effects of peer modeling and adult instruction, singly and in combination, on the adoption of an advocated strategy for problem-solving and on subsequent speed and accuracy, were examined in school children who had reported high or low expectations of success on the problem-solving task (WISC Block Design). (Editor)

Results suggest that adults may not be able to discover-invent-produce the learning that is necessary to behave more effectively; that they may be unaware of this possibility; and that if they try to get help from well intentioned others, it will tend to make things worse. (Author/AM)

Twenty-three children in each of 2 first-grade classrooms were observed as they worked in pairs with the computer language Logo in a learning-by-discovery context. Describes children's behaviors related to planning, correction of errors, reflection, causality, and procedure-writing. (RJC)

Presents some arguments for new training approaches to teaching people how to play games based on the literature about how humans play games, how they acquire game-playing skills, and game-playing theory. An example of the role-reversal approach to training is presented with some experimental findings regarding its effectiveness. (MBR)

Multiple-choice tests such as the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) provide useful instruments to probe the distribution of student difficulties on a large scale. However, traditional analysis often relies solely on scores (number of students giving the correct answer). This ignores what can be significant and important information: the distribution…

To examine how conceptual knowledge about fraction magnitudes changes as students' learning progresses, 5th and 7th-grade students were asked to solve fraction magnitude problems that entailed finding a fraction between two given fractions and then to evaluate solutions for similar problems that were modeled for them. When the given fractions…