The purpose of this report is to describe a systematic method of presenting a concept-learning problem to grade school children. Each child is tested individually. He is introduced to the concepts of size, shape, color, number of forms, and color of border on 2 by 3 inch cards in a practice book. He is then acquainted with a classificatory rule.…

Three aspects of concept teaching might be guided by the conceptual learning and development model. First, by assessing the characteristics of cognitive style, classificatory skills, and logical reasoning ability, the student's readiness to attain concepts under various circumstances can be determined. Secondly, the model points to optimal methods…

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…

This collection of 10 essays on the nature of second language learning focuses mainly on distinctions between the audiolingual and the cognitive-code theory of learning and also on the interrelationships between psychology, linguistics, and second language learning. A synthesis which cuts across divisions in methodology, caused by superficial…

This paper suggests appropriate material for a general humanities course founded on the classics and discusses the proper way of presenting it. The document also gives examples of such a course, which have been used successfully over a number of years. The ultimate purpose, of those who teach the humanities is brought out, i.e., to shape minds and…

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the relationships between individual difference variables and discovery vs. non-discovery instructional treatments in learning of an imaginary science. All subjects were able to learn the material, but presentation of examples and rules (non-discovery) led to more rapid learning. There was no…

A reading theory which distinguishes between reading as a passive recognition process and a cognitive participatory activity requiring active interpretation is discussed in this article. The method, considering reading as "thought and dialogue," stands in opposition to conditioned response theories basic to audiolingual methodology. It…

The author summarizes the results of 133 studies designed to test approaches to teaching children to think creatively. While acknowledging criticisms that most of the studies use performances on tests of creative thinking and other creative school performances as criteria, he contends that the evidence which they provide can be extremely useful to…

This booklet provides methods that teachers can use to analyze questioning techniques and suggests ways that teachers can develop variety in the type of questions they ask. Both Bloom's "Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I: Cognitive Domain," and the Question Category System for Science are discussed as systems for classifying…

An emphasis on learning to make positive comments on their peers' papers improved students' writing.

Describes how the study of established association patterns in the form of postulational-deductive systems can engender both learning and thinking. The authors used Darwin's theory of descent with modification to illustrate some parts of the above thesis. (HM)

Compares two grade 12 science classes, one receiving instruction using the Laboratory-Investigative Approach, and the other using the Lecture-Laboratory Approach, in terms of certain cognitive factors and associated attitudes. (GA)

Ten nursery school children who knew how to count but were unacquainted with arithmetic were taught a simple algorithm for solving single-digit addition problems and were then given extended practice. The reaction time on the final block of extended practice suggested that subjects had invented a more efficient procedure to replace the original…

Two experiments investigated the effects of four teaching treatments on sixth graders' learning of an ecology curriculum. Recitation was more significant in improving learning than the other treatments--probing or followup questioning; redirection of a question to another student; and higher cognitive questioning. (Author/CP)

Outlines a taxonomy of reading comprehension skills that teachers can use to develop questioning techniques that are flexible enough to reflect the nature of the reading materials. (RL)