The database management system or computerized database is an important tool for teaching thinking in the social studies. But what the teacher does to teach the student about databases, to use prepared databases, to organize their data, to direct their research, and to draw conclusions using this teaching device is just as important. The Direct…

A description is given of an inservice course designed to acquaint teachers with current constructivist thinking and research in cognitive and developmental psychology. The focus was on sensitizing the teachers to the challenges of creating a "thinking environment" in their classrooms. The course was designed to engage students as…

Activities used in a British infant school are described, as well as methods for teaching mathematics to young children. The influence of the Nuffield Project on mathematics instruction is also discussed. (JP)

Values are more easily discussed than manipulated or measured. A curricular development project aimed at developing critical television viewing skills has developed a curriculum for the middle school grades. The project is based on the assumption that children can utilize certain viewing, listening, and reading skills and analytic procedures to…

This document describes experimental attempts to teach young children the concepts of conservation of number. Subjects were 48 nursery school children who were divided into experimental and control groups. All children were individually pretested for conservation, after which the experimental group alone received two training sessions. The…

Suggests English teaching activities to which students must respond using the neural functions in both hemispheres of their brains. (DD)

To improve memory in children in early grades or in children at all ages with cognitive problems, it is suggested that the teacher provide verbal interpretations of pictorial information, encourage children to verbalize the pictured material for themselves, and encourage children to create their own mental pictures. (SBH)

A quantitative synthesis of fourteen studies was conducted to estimate the quasi-experimental and experimental effects of teachers' questioning strategies on academic achievement. Effects of predominantly higher order questions versus predominantly factual questions were examined. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

Two highly contrasting models of preschool education for mildly handicapped children were compared. Direct Instruction led to greater gains on the Test of Early Language Development and the Basic Language Concepts test. Mediated Learning led to greater gains on the McCarthy Verbal and Memory scales and Mean Length of Utterance measure. (Author/VW)

To solve the problems of low achieving students, it is important to change the quality of teaching instruction. Cognitive instruction is presented as a critical component for this large scale-change. Includes extensive references. (MD)

An evaluation of Peter Bryant's criticisms of Piaget shows that Piaget's work is still a suitable psychological resource for educational thinking. Piaget's constructivist theory has undergone recent revision and is, therefore, of interest to those with psychological or educational commitments to constructivism. (Author/RM)

The place of kindergarteners in academia has grown more important in recent years. Increased emphasis on learning at the kindergarten level, however, should not blind educators to the developmental levels of four- and five-year-olds, who may learn most effectively by playing creatively and exploring new language skills. (PGD)

Various approaches to graphic literacy are reviewed in relation to vocational education. An overview is then presented of Sticht's Developmental Model of Literacy and a study conducted by Sofo on graphic literacy in the workplace is described. (Author/CT)

The availability of several effective teaching models that allow the teaching of thinking skills and subject matter simultaneously proves that intellectual processes and content are not incompatible subjects for instruction. These models differ significantly from traditional models, and adequate training in them will require a thorough commitment…

Effective teaching practices identified through research stress the search for meaning and can therefore serve as a foundation for teaching thinking, despite grade-level and subject matter differences in content, teacher role, engagement time, and outcomes sought. Effective teaching is structured, interactive, and conducted in a positive learning…