A study involving 60 fifth-grade classrooms assessed student growth on integrated science process skills after being taught a 20-36 hour science unit based on the Integrated Curriculum Model developed for gifted learners. Results indicate small, but significant, gains for students in skills when compared to students not using the unit. (CR)

Emphasizes the importance of proofs and offers examples and ideas that might help educators develop students' mathematical reasoning skills. (ASK)

Describes an approach to the instruction of science writing which includes both a collaboration between the librarian and the scientific writing teacher and the incorporation of ongoing and incremental library instruction that is integrated with the writing assignments. (DDR)

Discusses the merits of investigative labs and how they change the role of students from passive direction followers to more creative and analytical thinkers. Focuses on the University of Minnesota's program in the Virgin Islands that involves undergraduates in research. (DDR)

Constructivist-based discussions in the science classroom were elicited through the application of an intervention model for effective whole-class discussion based on the "Philosophy for Children" program. Pre- and post-test measures indicate that the experimental class experienced significantly greater gains in scientific reasoning than…

Discussion of the interaction between students and computers focuses on an evaluation of simulation-based learning with medical students in order to develop a framework for a dialog-based support system. It is based on a dialog analysis that employs transactional analysis and logical dialog game theory. (Author/LRW)

Contends that students must understand the foundations of ethical reasoning in order to develop the ability to think critically about ethical issues. Discusses three foundations upon which all ethical reasoning must rest: (1) a sound understanding of ethical concepts and principles; (2) the knowledge that ethics is different from other domains of…

Argues for the inclusion of different kinds of writing and thinking in the classroom that ask students to situate their own experiences with writing in larger social contexts of which they are a part. Includes an in-depth analysis of one student's narratives of writing illustrating how she must think through social issues in order to understand…

Two experiments suggest that adults and even preschoolers possess interpretive structures--particularly object structure--that are nonclassical in the sense that they can be used to resolve an apparent contradiction. Results further suggest that certain interpretive structures present themselves in reasoning about particular predicate-object…

Presents evidence for students' qualitative and quantitative difficulties with apparently simple one-dimensional relative-motion problems, students' spontaneous visualization of relative-motion problems, the visualizations facilitating solution of these problems, and students' memories of the online computer simulation used as a framework for…

Gives several sample experiment problems for electricity and magnetism. To solve an experiment problem, students have to do one or more of the following: clarify a poorly defined problem, divide a problem into parts, access the appropriate concept needed to solve each problem part, decide whether approximations are appropriate, design an…

Explores the arguments used by 14-year-old students in making decisions about the design of a road in their area. Describes the general perspective of such an approach and the process of argumentation, then analyzes the nature of the students' arguments which are discussed on the basis of a specifically-constructed network. Contains 20 references.…

Critics of the Virginia Standards of Learning claim the tests do not allow teachers and students to explore their own interests. Proponents say the tests might force schools to cut out time-wasting activities (like Friday movies) and concentrate on performance. Parents worry about their kids' progress. (MLH)

Explains the RAC (Research, Analysis, Communication) Model, an instructional framework that integrates technology with curriculum standards through specific research, analysis, and communication skills to teach students, increase higher-order thinking skills, and assess their understanding of the required curriculum. Discusses its use across…

Examines the growth in students' understanding about the nature of astronomy in a one-semester college course. Discusses how students respond to instruction with regard to the extent to which they demand and examine evidence used for justifying claims, integrate scientific and religious views, and distinguish between scientific and nonscientific…