Discusses findings from a research study designed to characterize students' development of significant mathematical models by examining the shifts in their thinking that occur during problem investigations. Reveals four sources of mismatches that were significant in bringing about the occurrence of shifts in students' thinking. (Contains 16…

How can a widely acclaimed benefit of music study (improved spatial/temporal reasoning) be incorporated without overwhelming musical values? By focusing on musical learning goals stipulated in the standards and graciously including some ancillary purposes, music educators can protect professional integrity while comfortably promoting beneficial…

Two experiments examined preschoolers' performance on test relying on the uniqueness principle for using evidence from a miscount in inferring a counterfactual cardinal number, with subtests probing associated number-skills. All the 5-year-olds and half the preschoolers passed the test. Results suggest that a crucial preschool step is to start…

Considers the cognitive mechanisms available to individuals which enable them to operate successfully in different parts of the mathematics curriculum, such as children's arithmetic shows divergence in performance. Explains how students cope with the transition to advanced mathematical thinking in different ways, leading once more to a diverging…

Assessed multidimensionality for six forms of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) through factor analysis. Determined that the LSAT appears to measure two different reasoning abilities: inductive and deductive. Describes the techniques used to assess dimensionality. (SLD)

Children's informal and invented mathematics contains on an implicit level many of the mathematical ideas that teachers want to promote on a formal and explicit level. Elaborates on how teachers can use these ideas as a foundation on which to construct a significant portion of classroom pedagogy. (Contains 31 references.) (Author/ASK)

Complex (working memory) span tasks have generally shown larger and more consistent correlations with higher-order cognition than have simple (or short-term memory) span tasks. The relation between verbal complex and simple verbal span tasks to fluid abilities as a function of list-length was examined. The results suggest that the simple…

A study of university nursing students tested the effect of computer conference designs and advance organizers on critical thinking skills. Critical thinking, although not significantly different between three conference groups, was evident for groups in all three conference designs. Those conferences designed to facilitate critical inquiry showed…

This article argues that advanced mathematical thinking, usually conceived as thinking in advanced mathematics, might profitably be viewed as advanced thinking in mathematics (advanced mathematical-thinking). Hence, advanced mathematical-thinking can properly be viewed as potentially starting in elementary school. The definition of mathematical…

Project-based learning (PBL) provides a way of learning that seems to be particularly attractive to students who are struggling with conventional school assignments. This document proposes an approach to PBL in which the goal is to focus on thinking, making thinking processes visible to teacher and students.

This study assessed the creative thinking abilities of high-IQ and average students on fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Seventeen high-IQ fifth and sixth graders and 20 average fifth and sixth graders were given 4 batteries of Torrance's Verbal and Figural Tests (A and B) as pretests and posttests and three Future Problem…

Dealing with contentious issues is a part of living in a democracy. Controversies in the classroom range from discussions of fairness regarding playground rules to the rules of "just war." Understanding that there are multiple and often competing viewpoints is a prerequisite to being an informed and effective citizen. Teaching students to define…

There is a lot of talk these days about thinking historically. Policy makers use the term. So do teachers, curriculum writers, test makers, and administrators. And above all researchers use it--a lot. A number of articles have been published in this very column concerning the topic, many by those who do history-education research. Some might argue…

This article argues that core curriculum history surveys should promote critical reading and thinking skills, a basic knowledge of history, and a sense of self-awareness. Self-awareness is suggested as an alternative to attempts to promote student civic character by such means as service education. It also outlines the interconnection of teaching…

Four experiments examined children's ability to reason about the causal significance of the order in which 2 events occurred (the pressing of buttons on a mechanically operated box). In Study 1, 4-year-olds were unable to make the relevant inferences, whereas 5-year-olds were successful on one version of the task. In Study 2, 3-year-olds were…