Provides sample observation activities to accompany the nursery tale of Chicken Little. Includes five activities that involve the skills of observing, communicating, comparing, ordering, and categorizing to engage students in hands-on science. (DDR)

Studied personal context and continuity in the thinking of 23 Swedish students from grade 2 through grade 8 using data from a longitudinal study of conceptualizations of ecological processes. While there was substantial conceptual development, there was also a strong element of personal continuity for these students. (SLD)

Focuses on the role of tools, provided by a computer microworld (C.AR.ME), on the strategies developed by 14-year-old students regarding the concept of conservation of area of a non-convex polygon. Indicates that the nature of the tools used affected the nature of solution strategies that students constructed. (Author/KHR)

Studied the higher order thinking of 53 Israeli ninth graders in 3 schools using the Web-Based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE) learning environment to study about malaria. Findings show that all students used higher order thinking skills and that their English was good enough to use the WISE learning environment in the Israeli setting. (SLD)

Describes disposition designed to provide students with some of the substance of proof as an element of the practical rationality invested in engaging students in proving. Discusses how video episodes enhance chances of eliciting the practical rationality of mathematics teaching and how these records and artifacts function in the context of a…

Examines the idea that the development of moral ability shares similarities with Lev Vygotsky's theory of concept formation. Argues that understanding moral ability as a present-centered aptitude for creating meaning is significant for educators. Concludes it is useful for understanding the learning process to think and act in the present. (CAJ)

Describes how to use newspapers and newsmagazines as available science-related resources in the science classroom. Provides teaching strategies to foster student thinking and assess student understanding. (KHR)

Investigates the thinking process underlying students' improper linear reasoning and how this process is affected by their mathematical conceptions, beliefs, and habits. Explores the actual process of problem solving from students falling into the linearity trap and the mechanism behind it. Discusses specific mathematical conceptions, habits, and…

Investigated student satisfaction with a writing-intensive health education methods course and perceived improvement in their writing and thinking. Surveys of 103 predominantly white, female students from four sections of the course indicated that students had high levels of satisfaction with various aspects of the course, and they perceived…

This study assessed the influence of emphasizing historical investigation with fifth graders through documentation of classroom activities and students' analysis of historical documents and images before and after the design experiment. Data suggested that the investigative approach holds promise for teaching fifth graders how to analyze…

Reports findings from the team teaching of a course in mathematical problem solving designed for secondary and community college teachers to clarify the concept of ."ecessary and sufficient" conditions. Discusses assigned problems and students' incorrect interpretations. Student interpretations showed how simple mistakes can often lead to rich…

Describes one pattern of reasoning observed in a mathematical activity with students in a grade 5 class and discusses ways in which the pattern is or is not mathematical. Describes patterns of reasoning in terms of ways of reasoning and degree of formulation of the reasoning. Distinguishes between mathematical reasoning and scientific reasoning in…

Presents the findings of a study of the computerized assessment of essays on a final-year module within an undergraduate degree program. Students were required to create an essay, self-assess it, perform peer assessment, then reflectively self-assess their work for a second time after peer feedback. Discusses assessing higher order cognitive…

Explores ways in which Information Communication Technology (ICT) can be used within the classroom environment to enhance pupils' learning and understanding of mathematics. Describes how to incorporate ICT into lessons investigating mathematical proof. (KHR)

Discusses the importance of teaching vocabulary in the content area so that at-risk readers can develop strategies to see word relationships and the importance of higher-level thinking. Examines and offers specific examples of the strategies of mnemonigraph cards, analogies, and word groupings. (RS)