This paper describes a teacher preparation instructional unit on the "Structure of Knowledge" that was designed to help students learn to think like Jerome Bruner and David Ausubel rather than merely acquire knowledge about them, while simultaneously improving students' thinking skills. The unit used Sternberg's triarchic theory to…

A conditions-based approach to the development of microlevel organizational strategies for instruction is explored. The conditions model reflects the idea that differences in learning tasks, primarily qualitative differences in the cognitive processing required of different learning tasks, can suggest different ways by which instruction can either…

An extensive literature review led to the formation of a framework for vocabulary instruction that can be used to analyze the relationship between knowledge of word meanings and comprehension and to suggest more effective means of vocabulary instruction. The framework posits two types of information students hold about words--definitional and…

A specific teaching strategy to effect conceptual change used with a single class of fifth grade students was evaluated. The Rand McNally SCIIS "Communities" unit used in this study can be characterized as a conceptual change strategy because it is organized around a three-phase learning cycle designed to move students from…

Describes a highly effective reading program that focuses on learning strategies and the thinking process. (RB)

This study is concerned with teaching in an apprenticeship setting--the architectural design studio. The research examined teachers' planning, particularly as it focuses upon project assignments. The study yielded information about teachers' conceptual frames for their teaching, the personal aspects of teaching, the teachers' conceptions of…

This paper argues for connecting two domains that have remained relatively isolated within their respective disciplines--research on thinking and the social origins of cognition. Both enterprises have become enmeshed in education. Neither have considered in any serious way the power and implications that an integrated perspective could contribute…

By engaging in philosophical discussion in their writing, freshman composition students can discover that writing is a mediating tool between the self and the objective world, a means to examine the nature of reality and their thinking processes. Introducing philosophical issues opens the door for the investigation of difficult and abstract topics…

A theoretical framework is proposed to guide the reflective thinking of practitioners in the classroom. In this paper, the teacher's work is considered to be a series of acts intentionally performed for the educational benefit of all individuals interacting in the classroom. A discussion is presented on the theory of personal knowledge developed…

Citing several reasons why computers offer the potential to enhance instruction, this paper suggests that the teaching of thinking skills should be integrated into various subject areas by using software programs that involve the use of the skills required in the particular subject area. To illustrate this matching strategy, three software…

This paper presents an overview of research on academic tasks in the classroom and describes some of the themes that are emerging from studies in this area. The concept of "academic task" is defined along with problems associated with using this theoretical construct in classroom research. Three conceptions of how content should be represented to…

This paper discusses several critical issues concerning feedback in instruction and proposes a text synthesis research paradigm to investigate these variables. The paper is based on the assumption that feedback, a significant adjunct aid in instruction, is currently by and large ineffectual except in some simple instructional contexts. Section 1…

Cognitive theories of problem solving and suggestions made by cognitive psychologists regarding how to teach problem solving are reviewed. Theories and suggestions from creativity research are also considered. The results are summarized in terms of a description of how high levels of proficiency in problem solving are acquired and how problem…

Despite the current emphasis on thinking skills and the resulting concentration on lists and taxonomies that do not succeed beyond research contexts, all reflective people know that critical thought relies not on applying mental steps but on simply trying to figure out what might be right or wrong. This depends on one basic cognitive act,…

A domain-specific information processing model of problem solving behavior in elementary electrostatics was developed. Instruction based on this model was evaluated in a large university-level physics course. The experimental design utilized treatment and instructor as crossed factors. Dependent variables included a test of problem solving…