Reviews research relevant to the problem of unsatisfactory student problem-solving abilities and suggests a teaching strategy that addresses the issue. Author explains how she uses teaching aloud problem solving (TAPS) in college chemistry and presents evaluation data. Among the findings are that the TAPS class got fewer problems completely right,…

This study found that participants (n=78) in Science, Society and the Future, a problem-based course for gifted high school students, exhibited significant improvement in problem-solving schemes compared to a group of 42 gifted nonparticipants. The pattern of change was not consistent across problem-solving steps. (JDD)

Reports on a project that traced the moment-by-moment thought processes of 17 tertiary students enrolled in undergraduate distance education programs as they interacted with textual materials in private study settings. Data are presented on selected mediating processes, including evaluation, linking, strategy planning, generating, metacognition,…

Presents the mathematical proof, based on elementary number theory, for a card trick seen by students on television. Provides sources for other mathematical magic tricks that serve as motivational devices. (MDH)

Educational microworlds are defined and their potential for developing learners' thought processes is hypothesized to be more realizable than has previously been thought. A structured programing methodology that uses a point-and-click technique and that requires little syntactic sophistication on the part of the participant is presented. (LB)

Presents a series of challenges, problems, and examples to demonstrate the principle of mathematical induction and illustrate the many situations to which it can be applied. Applications relate to Fibonacci sequences, graph theory, and functions. (MDH)

Discusses the value of the Socratic method in classroom teaching. Defines the three primary components of the Socratic method as systematic questioning, inductive reasoning, and universal definitions. Suggests that such a teaching method can use thought content to change thought processes and encourage active participation and critical and…

The horizons are expanding for educational psychology as important questions are being raised about the extent and nature of the relationship between formal schooling and life experiences. A broadening of perspectives is required to incorporate cultural contexts and forces in which schooling takes part. (SLD)

This article is a chapter from a book titled "Rock Writing," which emphasizes writing skills for gifted students. It focuses on consumer education with examples from language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Included are quizzes, open-ended problems, puns, advertising euphemisms, comparison pricing exercises, research problems, and…

Provides a review of some of the main issues covered in research on writing, and indicates where this research may be found. Discusses the nature of writing, learning to write, computers and writing, and evaluating written products. (PRA)

Considers the role that students' approaches to learning play in summarizing text and learning from summarization. Discusses studies of two forms of summarization, one with the text available and one with the text removed after reading but before summarization. Reports that text-absent summarization facilitates deeper processing for students who…

Presented are the solutions generated by a fifth grade class to the problem of finding the sum of the number of blocks in a pyramid with a bottom layer containing seven blocks. Three methods were recorded: a levels method, a columns method, and a vertical slice method. (MDH)

Context-dependent item sets, containing a subset of test items related to a passage or stimulus, are discussed. A brief review of methods for developing item sets reveals their potential for measuring high-level thinking. Theories and technologies for scoring item sets remain largely experimental. Research needs are discussed. (SLD)

Students (n=107) in grades 4-6 were administered tests of evaluative ability and divergent thinking. Results indicated that evaluative abilities can be reliably assessed and that there was a significant relationship between divergent thinking and evaluative skill. The evaluative measures were negatively correlated with intelligence test scores.…

Describes a competitive learning activity for social studies based on the idea of basketball play-offs. Suggests that the exercise allows students to review and discuss U.S. history while engaging in higher cognitive thinking skills. Describes a format in which students analyze the historical background of each president. Includes seeding charts.…