Discusses the importance of movement to mental and physical development, especially in young children's learning environments. Suggests that children naturally need to move in order to learn, and adults' efforts to entice children to sit still, pay attention, and be quiet often run contrary to this need. Proposes creating safe learning…

An interdisciplinary faculty team from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (Missouri) and Albany College of Pharmacy (New York) collaborated in integrating a course on herbal products with a course on critical thinking. The collaboration was designed to improve students' professional critical thinking, communication, and ethical decision-making…

If science education is to be related as closely as possible to science, then Thought Experiments (TEs) must play an appropriate part. Presents a typology of TEs with examples drawn from the history of physics and addresses their various uses in bringing about students' conceptual development. Finds appropriate use of TEs is lacking in physics…

Describes a method content teachers in the middle and upper grades can use to teach their traditional content topics with a focus on the content information, the content's organizational plan, and strategies to help students "deep process" the content. Describes the three-stage implementation. Notes evidence that applying and practicing the…

Describes the development and use of two computer simulations for investigating systems thinking and environmental problem-solving in children (n=92). Finds that older children outperformed younger children, who tended to exhibit magical thinking. Suggests that seemingly isomorphic environmental problems may not be interpreted as such by children.…

Reports on two training experiments in which it was expected that training in inductive reasoning would transfer to intelligence tests measuring inductive reasoning and on mathematics performance. Shows that transfer on intelligence tests as well as on mathematics performance was linearly dependent on the amount of prior training. (DSK)

Explores the strategies used by prospective secondary mathematics teachers (N=13) to develop and validate functions as mathematical models of real-world situations. Uses a grounded hypothesis on strategy selection. Concludes that strategy choice was influenced by task characteristics and interactions with other student modelers. Contains 38…

Describes an action research project conducted in eighth-grade algebra and prealgebra classes. Suggests ways in which students can use their creativity to progress from a simple solution method to a method that produces a generalization and a formula. (AIM)

Discusses mathematical thinking and problems posed by seventh- grade students as part of a unit on the study of algebraic ideas. The unit involves showing how variables cause changes and also incorporates the solving of systems of equations by constructing line-graph drawings and combination charts. (AIM)

Provides an overview of the evolution of archaeology as a discipline, citing its special strengths and the approaches used to study past cultures. Gives special attention to the problems of preservation and to understanding the value of the physical remains of the past. (MJP)

Argues that attempts to incorporate critical-thinking skills into social studies instruction have been negligible. Outlines a framework for effectively helping students to become better thinkers that utilizes a model from the Critical Thinking Cooperative. The model considers such pedagogical factors as background knowledge, habits of mind, and…

Small group teaching is an excellent method for developing communication skills, critical thinking, and other higher level cognitive and attitudinal processes. Recognizes the wide variety of teaching techniques available to achieve these goals. Contains 18 references. (DDR)

Presents evidence that a limited range of scientific ideas are seen as essential by employers and tutors in higher education. Discusses the implications of noting employment and higher education needs for secondary science education. (DDR)

Investigates the attitudes and values that children and adolescents hold with respect to nature and the patterns of reasoning with which they are expressed. Outlines current positions in environmental ethics, discusses difficulties in applying contemporary theories of moral development to the problem, and summarizes preliminary results of the…

Presents a study that compares an introductory high school biology curriculum, Biology: A Community Context (BACC), with traditional curricula. Discusses the differences between standards-based BACC and traditional instruction. Identifies the instructional method in BACC as investigative inquiry and the activities proceed from concrete to more…