Teaching the geography of the United States to gifted elementary-level children in a way that challenges preconceived ideas about people and places is the focus of this article. Detailed student instruction is described, including thinking and writing activities that enable students to compare preconceived notions and reality. (CR)

Evaluates traditional organizational development approaches to crises in commitment and adaptability, and presents a new approach to organizational development based on organizational creativity. Discusses the need to encourage employees to master new thinking skills and create an infrastructure that ensures these skills will be used regularly.…

Describes a method for teaching multiplication of fractions based on Piaget's constructivism. Instead of teaching the algorithm of multiplying the numerators and denominators, students are presented with many problems and ask to invent their own ways of solving them. (DDR)

Describes a variation on a problem from the history of mathematics in which the class is divided into cooperative learning groups of four students each. Each group is challenged to find a procedure for resolving the situation with several solutions emerging. Emphasizes the importance of examining "incorrect" answers and discussing the…

Recent research in mathematics instruction underscores the importance of problem solving and higher-level thinking. This article presents four themes in instruction for students with learning disabilities: (1) provide a broad, balanced mathematics curriculum; (2) engage students in meaningful problem tasks; (3) accommodate diverse learning styles;…

Research reveals that successful problem solvers must possess comprehensive knowledge, and more importantly, have appropriate knowledge organization and understanding. A new taxonomy of medical problems is recommended, and it is suggested that the traditional hypothetico-deductive strategy for problem-based learning be replaced by scheme-driven…

Claims that the major obstacle to active learning techniques comes from students. To free class time for active learning, students must take on the responsibility for learning factual information on their own. Looks at ways to explain the benefits of active education and to orient students in this approach. (RJM)

This essay proposes a model for providing alternative instruction to gifted learners, emphasizing development of independent, creative, abstract, complex, and transformational thinking skills. Essential commonalities and differences between good instruction in general and good instruction for the gifted are discussed, as are the model's…

Argues that human services needs its professional core broadened to include a liberal curriculum. Explores the idea of the human services generalist and how many of the skills needed in human services are achieved through a liberal (general) curriculum, which emphasizes communication skills, critical thinking skills, adaptive skills, and more.…

Presents an alternative to using a single-class-period test to assess a college student's knowledge in the mathematics area. Evaluation of student mathematical knowledge and understanding of concepts is improved when students are given opportunities to design problems and solutions, applying classroom-acquired knowledge to new situations. Such…

Uses the book entitled "Biggest, Strongest, Fastest" by Steve Jenkins to provide animal facts of interest to students, which in turn become the basis for other applications of mathematics. By using themselves as a unit of measure, students have a real-world connection to the problem. This method also helps to demonstrate that even…

Notes that American public education is challenged with large numbers of students at-risk and quite diverse curricular approaches advocated by various educational decision makers. Presents perspectives on instruction and explores the current curricular focus on critical/creative approaches including the use of integrated thematic units and…

Discusses the implications of the stage theory of critical thinking development. Argues that people actively pass through the predictable stages of unreflective, challenged, beginning, practicing, advanced, and master thinkers and that educators must bring critical thinking into instruction at the foundational level. Analyzes implications for…

Describes a study that investigates the relationship between secondary students' written responses and the mathematical and cognitive processing used when solving a complex problem. Contains 40 references. (DDR)

Focuses on mental strategies for computing in the middle grades. Describes what they are and why they are important. Refers to relevant research and presents some teaching ideas for developing these strategies beyond the primary grades. Includes a discussion of the role of mental calculation in everyday life both past and future. Contains 27…