A CONCEPT ATTAINMENT TASK IN WHICH CHILDREN ARE ASKED TO IDENTIFY A CONCEPT THROUGH DETERMINING WHICH OF A SET OF OBJECTS ARE OR ARE NOT INSTANCES OF IT WAS USED TO INVESTIGATE THEIR PROBLEM-SOLVING BEHAVIOR. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST WAS THE QUESTION OF TO WHAT EXTENT THEY USED OR LEARNED THE STRATEGY OF VARYING ONE FACTOR WHILE HOLDING ALL OTHERS…

Chapter I provides a rationale for teaching science to young children; Chapter II discusses various ways children can learn science concepts; Chapter III gives suggestions on collecting and making materials and equipment, arranging the science area, planning outdoor learning, making science experiences happen, asking questions, etc. Chapter IV…

The roles of (1) the sequence of instruction and (2) cognitive ability variables were investigated using a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) course on an imaginary science of "Xenograde systems." A rationale for an information processing task analysis was developed to overcome the deficiencies of other analytic methods. The new method was found…

Reviewed are three computer software programs: (1) "World GeoGraph"--geography, discovery tool, grades 6-12, Apple IIGS; (2) "Grammatik III"--language arts, grade 7-adult, IBM, PS/2, Tandy 1000; (3) "Words & Concepts I, II, III"--language and concept training for special education, age 3-9, Apple II with speech…

Explores the use of dialogue and dramatization to reconstruct the formation of mathematical concepts. An appendix provides the synopsis of a 6-scene play that portrays the rise of negative numbers over a period of 300 years. (MDH)

Discusses the following themes that pervade individual articles in this volume: (1) critical reasoning; (2) inductive anthropology; (3) active learning; (4) discovery; (5) open versus closed anthropology; (6) reflexivity; (7) cross-cultural comparisons; (8) films; (9) holism; and (10) problems in the 1990s. Suggests that these themes will be at…

Describes a self-paced reading method of instruction used to teach the introduction to cultural anthropology course at Kansas State University. Assigned problems stimulate integration of ethnographic data with concepts. Discusses advantages and disadvantages of this approach based on student course evaluations. (JS)

This article argues for an invigorated, more complex understanding of the body in social work theory, practice, and research. Drawing from scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and social work, a framework involving three dimensions of the body is proposed for integration with accepted ecological practice models. (Author)

The National Policy Board of Educational Administration reflects the belief that principals should be taught processes for experimenting and learning from real world data to meet the challenges of the work environment. This study of practicing principals yielded a content analysis of 482 responses, which reflect the need for principals to…

One of the key reasons that multimedia, and particularly hypertext systems, are gaining in importance is that they inspire hopes of optimizing learners' processes of knowledge construction. The present study is concerned with the respective influence of individual learner variables (i.e. particularly domain-specific prior knowledge) on the use of…

Focusing on how expert writers in various disciplines convey complex ideas, this paper shows how the techniques used by the mathematician, Clark Kimberling, in various writings can (1) be transferred to other disciplines, (2) show learning taking place, and (3) provide models for students to re-enact learning in all subject areas. The paper…

Museum objects can be the springboard for exercising critical thinking. There are four main thought processes associated with critical thinking: (1) fluent thinking, the ability to produce many ideas; (2) flexible thinking, the ability to view something in different ways; (3) original thinking, the ability to produce unique ideas; and (4)…

Based on a project concerned with studying invention across the curriculum, this paper discusses an across-the-curriculum writing program that encourages students to take control of what they are studying, contributing to what is known rather than being passively filled by it. The paper (1) challenges the current notion that creative behavior is a…

Reviews past information revolutions, describes the technologies of the current revolution, and discusses the impact of technology on broader social dynamics. Topics discussed include future roles for publishers and libraries, the impact of social trends on the discovery process, and the need for a global information policy. (CLB)

This clear, reader-friendly book is carefully designed to help readers gain confidence and acquire competence in their academic writing abilities. It focuses on real people as they write and actively involves readers in the writing process. The authors' innovative approach encourages reflection on how professional writing initiatives connect to…