Four students participated in a two year study (fifth- and sixth-grade) focused on the development of their understanding of multiplication of fractions. During the first year, all students received individualized instruction designed to encourage them to build on their informal knowledge of partitioning to solve problems involving multiplication…

This book offers integrated activities in which students explore words and, at the same time, develop their language arts and thinking skills. The book states that this way teachers can pay more attention to word study, without sacrificing other parts of the English curriculum and without resorting to word lists and memorization. In the first…

A good vocabulary is one of the major building blocks for success in reading, and every content area has vocabulary to master. This book offers K-12 classroom teachers proven techniques for effective vocabulary instruction. The learning strategies described in the book will help students develop thinking skills that involve analysis, comparison…

Describes types of metacognitive knowledge and how this knowledge relates to other cognitive skills. The strengths and weaknesses of three instructional strategies for promoting metacognition among gifted and talented students are reviewed, and the skills and strategies that should be included in metacognitive instruction programs are discussed.…

Analyzes the responses of pre- and in-service teachers (N=136) to a series of graded questions about average. Presents information in graphical form requiring respondents to compare datasets induced responses in iconic and concrete symbolic modes, demonstrating multimodal functioning. (Author/ASK)

The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center--the MET--is a multimillion-dollar Rhode Island effort to emphasize learning in real-world situations. Internships have become the torque that drives each student's education plan, focusing on higher level skills rather than on skills specific to a certain trade. (MLF)

Presents an analysis of technology education and its relevance to lateral thinking. Discusses prospects for utilizing technology education as a platform and a contextual domain for nurturing lateral thinking. Argues that technology education is an appropriate environment for developing complementary incorporation of vertical and lateral thinking.…

Describes a successful program that used a step-by-step approach for teaching research and presentation skills to gifted sixth-grade students. Steps included developing a preliminary outline, exploring various sources, organizing information, using higher-level thinking skills, creating a rubric for evaluating presentations, providing handouts,…

Describes by vignette and analysis four primary instructional tasks necessary to develop inquiry skills in children. Such tasks are shown to be fundamental to the inviting classroom and to experimental science. Claims that inviting inquiry requires a tolerance of error, supportive environments that nurture intellects, and participation that…

Addresses the initial understanding that advanced undergraduate mathematics students exhibit when presented with a new concept in an environment requiring self-generation and self-validation of examples of the concept. Concludes that students who used an example generation learning strategy were more effective in attaining an initial understanding…

Introduces a dynamic form of the case instruction method that involves debate and compromise. Discusses two versions of structured controversy and presents an example of structured controversy that involves the use of DNA fingerprinting in forensic medicine. (JRH)

Presents a laboratory exercise for an intermediate cell and molecular biology course that uses a murder-mystery play. Provokes students to think critically about important issues in scientific methodology in general and DNA analysis in particular. (JRH)

Examines changes in the "supersystem" of instructional systems design (ISD) that indicate the need for a paradigm of training and education based on learning instead of sorting students. Emphasizes the necessity of developing initiative, teamwork, thinking skills, and diversity, as well as new learning-focused instructional theories and…

Presents brief annotations of 29 children's books that engage children's curiosity and promote divergent thinking. Highlights books that encourage readers to be curious, analytical, critical, reflective, and self-aware. (SR)

Presents a collection of problem-solving tasks focusing on mathematical situations that often have surprising results. This hands-on investigation invokes problem solving and reasoning, requires communication skills, and encourages identification of connections among various mathematical concepts. A Heads-or-Tails Toss encourages children to…