The goal of the study is to describe the development and validation of a cognitive development test. The test fulfills the criteria of (1) logical equivalence of test items and the mental logic of Piagetian tasks; (2) reliability and validity of the group measure; and (3) efficient, objective assessment. (RE)

A teacher describes the experiences of her fourth-grade students when using calculators during mathematics class. (MK)

The two groups were not significantly different on tests of lipreading and reception of signed English, but the hearing Ss were superior on tests of nonverbal reasoning and perceptual speed. Hearing Ss were greatly superior on a test of verbal reasoning. (Author/DLS)

This study is a longitudinal follow-up analysis of children's performances on a number of Piagetian concrete operations tasks dealing with conservation and transitive inference. Subjects were 102 children selected from kindergarten and grades 1, 3, and 4. (Author/MP)

Investigates the influence of logical skills (inclusion and seriation) on the degree and kind of semantic integration performed on remembered material among 47 third- and fourth-grade boys and girls and college students. (JMB)

Three definitions of "back-to-the-basics" are given and discussed. The idea that science provides opportunities to practice the most "skill-thinking" is also discussed. (MK)

Examines three complete basal reading programs to determine how frequently logically necessary relationships are expressed in the text and whether direct instruction in making logically necessary inferences accompanies such expressions in basals. Finds that, although basals offer a natural context in which logical understanding may be constructed,…

Discusses the process and the usefulness of translating empirical logic puzzles into mathematical problems which may be more easily solved, then translating the answer back into the context of the original problem. Presents nine logic puzzles devised by Lewis Carroll, with answers. (AIM)

Three experiments examined strategies for solving suppositional deductions to compare control structures proposed by rule theory and model theory. Puzzles were based on assertors who may be truth-tellers and their assertions about their truth-telling status. Reasoners made backward and forward inferences, found generating suppositions difficult,…

Argues that reasoning is not governed by mental logic or models. Proposes new operational semantic theory, in which reasoning is based on children's operational understanding of key terms in a given problem. Reports results of a study of class inclusion in which dramatic differences in performance were found as the result of linguistic context.…

This study examined 6- to 8-year-old Slovenian children's acquisition of matrix completion proficiency and compared microgenetic and age-related changes on the task. Microgenetic analyses indicated that: variability of children's errors increased before they discovered the correct strategy, the correct strategy became dominant shortly after…

Explores the attempts of a group of preservice elementary school teachers to generalize a repeating visual number pattern. Discusses students' emergent algebraic thinking. Indicates that students' ability to express generalities verbally was not accompanied by algebraic notation, but participants often perceived complete and accurate solutions…

Explores the relative strengths and weaknesses of the spreadsheet approach versus specialized mathematical programming software for solving a particular logic puzzle. (KHR)

Discussion of the use of computer programing languages to facilitate cognitive skill transfer focuses on logical reasoning. Conditional logic principles are examined, and a study is described that examined the effects of learning the LOGO Programing Language on fifth graders' conditional reasoning abilities. (35 references) (LRW)

Describes activities that present concepts and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for elementary and secondary school students. The use of Logo with elementary students is discussed; appropriate software is described; programing activities using Logo, BASIC, and Prolog are examined; and the field of robotics is discussed. (four…