This review explores the empirical research on nontraditional instruction methods and their effects on reasoning development in college students in introductory biology. A search of primary databases found relatively few empirical studies, but eventually nine relevant empirical studies were identified. Findings suggest that inquiry-based,…

Many mathematics educators have lost sight of the critical importance of the mathematical understanding which underlies procedural competence, in part because we do not have a language to refer to this kind of understanding. The modal way of categorizing mathematical knowledge--conceptual and procedural knowledge--is limited in that: (a) it is…

This study investigated students' generalizations of numeric situations through the use of a whole-class teaching experiment in which students were provided problem situations in order to: (1) trace students' understanding of recursive and explicit reasoning; and (2) describe the sociomathematical norms and classroom practices that were…

Sixty Japanese children ranging in age from 3 years 4 months to 7 years 5 months were individually interviewed with three Piagetian tasks. Children's levels of representation were assessed by asking for a graphic representation of 4 dishes, 6 pencils, 8 small blocks etc. A conservation-of-number task was then given to assess children's level of…

This book describes a theoretical framework, "experienced cognition," for understanding cognition at the level of conscious mental states that make up a person's stream of awareness. The central idea is a cospecification hypothesis that an experienced self and experienced objects are simultaneously specified in the information available…

The pedagogical imperative to prepare students to become critical thinkers, critical readers, and critical writers for the coming millennium necessitates a comprehensive college discourse on critical thinking. The paper cites seminars and workshops that incorporate theoretical and practical dimensions of teaching critical-analytical thinking…

Discusses the need for science programs to teach students to use both analytical and creative pathways of inquiry. The first step toward this goal of integrating thinking must be to strengthen the ability to collect both objective and subjective sensory information. Lists teaching practices to accomplish this, such as accepting that the process is…

A method to measure speededness on tests is presented that reflects the tendency of examinees to guess rapidly on items as time expires. The method models response times with a two-state mixture model, as demonstrated with data from a computer-administered reasoning test taken by 7,218 examinees. (SLD)

Focuses on the importance of helping students develop intercultural competence and suggests ways to integrate activities for this purpose into instruction. Activities are presented to promote effective student strategies for intercultural competence. Stresses the importance of providing opportunities for students to reflect on interpretations or…

Elementary school children were interviewed about how gears move on a gearboard and how they work in commonplace machines. Children's reasoning became more general, formal, and mathematical as problem complexity increased, suggesting that mathematical forms of reason may develop when they provide a clear advantage over simple causal…

Offers a plan for using a modified reading/study guide, called the 3-Level Reading Guide, in mathematics class to help students comprehend and solve word problems. Suggests that the guide can help students become independent problem solvers. (SR)

Presents a teaching-learning unit on the thinking skill of analysis that addresses the need of gifted elementary students for qualitative differentiated teaching and learning. Describes which learning content can ensure qualitative differentiated learning for young gifted children and how teacher-learning strategies can be applied to achieve…

How students develop forms for self-regulating learning is explored. It is suggested that they experiment, bootstrapping newer forms of self-regulated learning from prior forms. Obstacles are obtaining sufficient practice, remembering how learning was enacted, and reasoning about factors that affect learning. (SLD)

Presents nine science activities to help students improve their thinking and problem solving skills. Activities cover the science process skills of classifying, ordering, space-time relationships, inferring, predicting, and elaborating. (MKR)

These activities invite students to use mathematics to explore interesting facts about famous buildings. The investigation for grades three to four focuses on the SkyDome, a sports arena in Toronto, Canada, and the investigation for grades five to six discusses the Empire State Building in New York City. Includes reproducible student worksheets.…