Focuses on problem-based learning (PBL). Explains ill-defined problems of PBL and compares PBL with the typical problem solving approach. Lists 10 steps to involve students in constructing understanding for use with PBL. (YDS)

A company designs and delivers treasure and scavenger hunts for corporate and institutional clients. Groups are divided into teams that must solve puzzles for directions or clues. The hunts build creativity, teamwork, communication skills, and an appreciation of others' strengths. An insert includes a four-puzzle mini-treasure hunt. (TD)

Describes a method of modifying a spelling curriculum to meet the academic needs of gifted learners. Word Class combines a self-selected approach to spelling instruction with thinking skills and enables gifted learners to make choices about their learning as they engage in creative, high-level thinking. (Author/CR)

Presents a portfolio assignment giving students an opportunity for creativity in designing their portfolios to demonstrate their progress in the course. Presents examples from student portfolios and outlines portfolio goals. Concludes with student reactions to the class portfolio, information on the grading procedure, and candidate courses for…

Reviews studies on the cognitive mechanisms underlying creative thought and proposes a general model. This model holds that creative thought involves interactions among a number of distinct cognitive components. Some of the implications of this model for the design of effective educational programs are discussed. (Author/CR)

Presents a model of creative and critical thinking in which analogical reasoning is used to link planes of thought and generate ideas that are then tested by employing an "if/and/then" pattern of reasoning. Presents data suggesting that such thinking skills develop first in familiar and observable contexts before they can be used in less familiar…

The predictive validity of original thinking, as measured by two subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, to the performance of real-world creative activities (in such domains as art, drama, sport, music, and dance) was examined in 60 second-graders. Original thinking was significantly related to creative performance but not to…

Describes how the Rogers Elementary School initiates student-created activities. Includes 33 activities chosen from a total of 60 suggestions from these students. These activities are grouped under two major themes, "Fingerprints" and "Detectives." Explains strategies of which these activities can help students in learning…

Analyzed how bilingual elementary students responded to monolingual classrooms which assumed that those who did not fit in were problematic and required learning support. Discusses bilingualism and creative thinking, creative learning, and evidence of bilingual students' creativity. While bilingual students within monolingual environments often…

Addresses the question of the range of applicability of Bertrand Russell's conception of critical thinking. Argues that important instances of critical thinking require other resources in addition: decisions about the conduct of one's life, philosophical method, scientific methods, and creative thought. Identifies limitations of Russellian…

Examines how "Drama in Fractionville" (a process drama created by 3 college students) is an example of how classroom drama can manipulate a complex artistic sensibility to succeed in both artistry and education. Concludes that it is possible for classroom teachers and drama leaders alike to create drama-based lessons that ask students to…

In this paper, the term 'intelligence current' is further explained and the problems found in relationships between (among) creativity, intelligence, attitude and environmental factors are discussed, according to the systematic model of creativity previously developed by the author. In this model, the performance of an individual's creativity is…

The generation of new ideas is a complex demanding activity involving multiple processing operations. As is the case in other forms of complex cognition, biases in process execution can induce errors that limit peoples' ability to generate viable new ideas. In the present effort, the nature of these biases, and their impact on creative thought,…

An effort to bring commonality to what students bring with them may be the reason that California's Content Standards so heavily emphasize what students must know and understand. In fact, this author's analysis of California's Content Standards shows that just over one-quarter of the standards are written at a "remember" or an…

A "wiki" is a class of Web site that lets authorized users create and modify pages (sometimes called articles) as well as search for information. The term also sometimes describes the software that makes the site possible. The most famous example of a wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia with articles that are written and edited by site…