Described is an approach to the teaching of thinking and problem-solving for gifted and regular education students, based on R.J. Sternberg's "Suggested Criteria for the Development of Thinking Skills Programmes." The program provides specific skills training and ample practice, emphasizes cooperative learning and motivation, and…

Guidelines and suggestions are given to help school professionals avoid formal due process proceedings concerning the education of exceptional children. Methods for resolving conflicts early include trust building, empathic listening, and structured problem-solving. (Author/MSE)

Presents a theoretical discussion of evaluation research and the need for gathering data to support the decision-making process concerned with training program performance. Guidelines for conducting evaluation research are discussed, the participants involved with successful implementation are described, and data gathering methods are explained.…

Discusses the appropriate use of Logo and microcomputers in elementary education and gives recommendations for its successful use. Highlights include problems with unsubstantiated claims for the benefits of Logo; the effects of teaching children to program; formal operational thinking; research on Logo; and problem solving and transfer to other…

Evaluated effectiveness of 16-week intervention for 52 second- and third-grade children of divorce. Participants were compared with 52 divorce controls and 81 children from intact families on child, parent, and teacher measures of adjustment. Experimental group improved significantly more than nonprogram groups from multiple perspectives,…

Urban Canadian sixth-graders (n=84) were tested on 80 arithmetic word problems developed as part of a larger set to reflect individual differences in problem solving. Problems varied in complexity of language and amount of extraneous information present. Results indicated substantial internal consistency and concurrent validity relative to…

This study compared the effectiveness of a diagrammatic and a keyword method of teaching mathematics problem solving to 70 learning-disabled junior high school students. Results indicated no significant difference between problem-solving performance by students taught with different methods. Potential factors explaining inconsistencies between…

Discussion of student control of learning focuses on tutorial computer-assisted learning (CAL). Modular course design is discussed, learning styles and the influence of CAL are described, and skills needed by students to use tutorial CAL effectively are examined, including note taking, using summaries and worksheets, and problem solving. (16…

Evolving beliefs and reasoning strategies of 22 fifth and sixth graders working on a causal reasoning problem were observed. Children conducted experiments to learn about relations between design features and speed of race cars in a computerized "microworld." Subjects did not attain full understanding of features disconfirming their…

Selects five critical elements for success in problem solving in mathematics and in computer programing: general strategy; planning; logical thinking; variables; and debugging. Describes the role of the five elements based on a literature review. Forty-one references are listed. (YP)

Investigated were student problem-solving strategies in an attempt to develop a model of student performance. The problem-solving strategies used by 30 high school students were analyzed. Suggestions for improved instruction in solving genetics problems are provided. (CW)

The Individualized Eclectic Examination is described. The format, design, and philosophy of the examination that emphasizes problem solving are discussed. Sample questions, student projects, and an illustration of the implementation of the exam are included. (CW)

Examines the relationship of the amount of available short-term memory with the complexity of tasks the subjects mastered. Presents some hints for a better design of instruction. (YP)

Identified are variables affecting performance of algebraic word problems for eighth graders. An appropriate readability level would seem necessary but not sufficient for student success. The structural variables used appeared to be good predictors of both the correct strategies and solving time. (Author/YP)

Investigates the relationship between the strategies used by preservice elementary teachers in geometric problem solving and two primary mental abilities--spatial visualization and formal reasoning. Reports that the two abilities were related to problem-solving performance, and the strategies used were related to achievement in the geometry…