Presents an exercise designed to nullify student claims of subjectivity in the grading of essay examinations. Asks students to grade sample essay questions according to specific criteria. Discusses benefits of the exercise. Provides sample essays and answers, and illustrates the difference between analytical and narrative answers. (RW)

Discusses the importance of student questions as tools of instruction and as indicators of student misconceptions. Suggests different ways in which students may gain an understanding of biological concepts through discussion of popular movies and biological problems. (CW)

Describes an instructional model for presenting students with opportunities to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate ideas through cooperative problem solving. Provides suggestions for implementation using examples from the author's classroom experiences. (MM)

Instructors who have used the Guided Design approach that focuses on problem-solving and decision-making skills in third- and fourth-year core and elective pharmacy courses suggest that successful use of the method is linked to student attitudes, facilities, instructor energy and motivation, and grading considerations. (Author/MSE)

A four-prong instructional model for intellectual-skills development is described. The four prongs are: familiarization, intra-group problem solving, inter-group problem solving, and individual problem solving. A psychological model of what is to be taught, the triarchic theory of human intelligence, provides the underpinning of the instructional…

The efficacy of task-related and interpersonal problem-solving training for enhancing junior high-school performance was examined with 48 difficult-to-teach, low-income, minority sixth-grade students. Half were randomly assigned to an intervention, the other half being used for control. Training was found to significantly improve grades and reduce…

Investigates how primary-level pupils can solve word problems more effectively using computational skills in small, cooperative groups. Points out six principles for successful cooperative groups through problem solving protocol analysis: (1) teach strategies; (2) rehearse techniques; (3) involve everyone; (4) cooperate to solve problems; (5) keep…

Discusses conceptual clarification of dimensions in the treatment environment of a residential unit for young offenders. Examines ideas of structure, control, contemporaneous, and developmental matching from the Conceptual Level Matching Model. Describes specification of types, quality, and settings of staff-youth interactions. Addresses the…

Presented is a method for solving certain types of problems, with the goal of piquing students' interest in studying affine geometry, which underlines the method. (MNS)

Gifted underachievers at Leaside High School (Toronto, Ontario) are integrated into a program with more successful peers that is based on systematic skill development, supportive evaluation, and personal counseling. The program's integrated approach involves teaching math, English, science, and history core content along with enrichment activities…

Learning at a distance from the source of instruction through textbooks and other media is distance learning. Robert Record wrote mathematics textbooks for the home learner of the sixteenth century. He used dialogue between Master and Scholar to present concepts and correct possible mistakes and misconceptions. (DC)

Assignment projects for high-achieving ninth graders were developed, and a comparative evaluation study indicated that they were effective. It bacame clear that teachers needed more practical support, so a diagnostic study was undertaken, leading to the establishment of a link between a categorization of student difficulties and a hierarchy of…

Use of a microcomputer spreadsheet program to help students understand long division is described. An example of a problem with powers of 10 used with seventh graders is presented, with note of another lesson on decimals for grade 6. (MNS)

Illustrated are how explorative assignments can help to expose and identify learning problems. Some assignments that address these problems and some techniques and benefits of using writing assignments are provided. (MNS)

This article briefly reviews problem-solving deficits in learning-disabled adolescents; describes decision stories; and explores how they can be used to make students more active, problem-solving learners. Three decision stories are presented to demonstrate their potential for helping students approach and/or solve academic and social problems.…