Reports a study to investigate the extent to which research experience of designing and conducting their own study could enhance five preservice teachers' understanding of children's knowledge of the mathematical concept of fractions. Results indicated that research experience is fruitful in developing an inquisitive disposition in preservice…

Offers activities that foster sharing, supporting, and risk taking for teachers seeking to change instructional practice to implement the NCTM "Professional Teaching Standards." Reviews common obstacles to change, reviews individual and collective professional behaviors that support change, and makes eight recommendations to enhance the…

Describes a project that addresses the problem of the failure rate of African-American and Hispanic students in calculus. Discusses a solution that offers minority students a combination of workshops with intensified sections of the calculus course that challenge the students. (MDH)

Provided are student activities to introduce the geometric concepts of line symmetry and rotational symmetry as related to Hawaiian quilting patterns. Paper squares, scissors, and folding techniques afford the teacher the chance to stimulate class discussion about pattern recognition and to integrate mathematics with the cultural world outside the…

Describes one teacher's reflection concerning the quest to develop an understanding of school mathematics that promotes and sustains students' opportunities for exploration and conjecture. Recounts that a particular student's exploration of the features of parabolas eventually led to an understanding of the quadratic formula precisely because of…

Presents the template method developed by Galileo for calculating areas of geometric shapes constructed of uniform density and thickness. The method compares the weight of a shape of known area to the weight of a shape of unknown area. Applies this hands-on method to problems involving calculus, Pythagorean's theorem, and cycloids. (MDH)

Discusses area models that can be used in grades three through nine, showing how the model generalizes from discrete situations involving the arithmetic of whole numbers to continuous situations involving decimals, fractions, percents, probability, algebra, and more advanced mathematics. (14 references) (MDH)

Presents geometry activities for the K-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 levels that involve the students in cutting-and-rearranging figures and discussing, describing, and writing about the activities with language they already possess. Provides appropriate worksheets for the activities. (MDH)

Reports unique solutions given to five problems from individual students in mathematics courses for prospective elementary school teachers oriented toward problem solving. Concludes that such courses are feasible, promote problem-solving abilities and strategies, and develop appreciation and confidence in preservice teachers. (MDH)

Presents an experiment to examine the relative effects of cooperative groups versus independent practice in helping students encode problem-solving strategies into their long-term memory. Four classes of 126 prealgebra students were randomly assigned to employ the 2 methodologies. Students who practiced in cooperative groups demonstrated greater…

Discussion of the instructional effectiveness of educational software focuses on a study of undergraduates that investigated the effectiveness of a problem-solving program designed to assist students in solving nonlinear optimization problems. Results are reported that indicate manual procedures resulted in greater learning than use of the…

Proposes methods to improve scientific literacy in the United States by integrating science, mathematics, and technology in instruction that combines subject matter and pedagogical knowledge. Suggests seven steps leading to scientific literacy. (MDH)

Describes how college students enrolled in a course in elementary algebra apply graphing and algebra to data collected from a seismic profile to uncover the structure of a subterranean rock formation. Includes steps guiding the activity. (MDH)

A teacher reflects on what he learned from his students and educator Earl Kelley's writings, when 30 years ago as a beginning teacher, he attempted a democratic approach to teaching junior high school science and math. This approach encouraged student collaboration in the planning of learning activities, community projects, and student assessment.…

TORUS, a prototype technology-based educational diagnostic program, is described. The usefulness of TORUS to identify and remediate the mathematics misconceptions of students with learning disabilities is reported. Results suggest the need for greater emphasis on conceptual understanding in mathematics instruction. (Author/DB)