Describes the Coventry (Rhode Island) Junior High School Mastery Learning Project, serving up to 55 students in seventh-grade English, eighth-grade science, seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics, and seventh-grade social studies (geography) classes. Achievement of students in the program is compared to that of students in regular classes. (MH)

Motivation for learning is important for positive learning outcomes as well as for measured achievement levels. When students come to our classes, they bring with them learning histories in which we as individual teachers, most likely, did not have an input. Our students do not only bring with them different levels of prerequisite leanings but…

Explores the utility of L. S. Shulman's view of teaching as the transformation of subject matter in the context of a preservice secondary mathematics methods course. The paper elaborates on Shulman's view, discussing the context of the study, then presenting a case study of a seminar on lesson planning. (SM)

To improve science, mathematics, and technology education, Israeli high school teachers received training involving inservice courses and school supervision. Surveys, reports, observations, meetings, and student achievement tests indicated that the program was useful for teachers who had acquired basic knowledge in their disciplines. It took 3-6…

Reports that those who were taught proportions exhibit more of a tendency to transfer than those who were not. Investigates the relationship of previous learning and problem-solving abilities to the learning of proportionality in facilitating transfer. Shows the magnitude of effects of task assignment on transfer. (YP)

Investigated was the effect of programing-augmented mathematics classes on the math achievement, problem solving abilities, and attitudes of students with different cognitive styles. Reports BASIC programing groups demonstrated higher mathematics achievement than the LOGO group, and field independent students performed better and had more positive…

Summarizes eight papers from the 1989 National Educational Computing Conference (NECC). The papers describe: (1) programs for teaching physical science, astronomy, and mathematics; (2) integrating telecommunications into school science; (3) use of models and simulations; and (4) the 1988 Association for the Education of Teachers in Science…

Eleven papers on developments in middle school education (grades seven through nine) in England, West Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium are presented. Topics include comprehensive education for 11 to 16 year olds, mathematics, political issues, accessibility, curricula, school evaluation, and the view of the United States. (TJH)

Presents three teaching ideas: (1) a scoring rubric to assess students' ability to communicate attempts at solving homework problems; (2) a three-part measurement activity using trigonometry, maps, and compasses to locate hidden treasure; and (3) a demonstration of the effects of numerical coefficients on graphs of quadratic functions. (MDH)

Describes a geometry course that integrates transformation geometry into traditional high school geometry. Discussion of the scope and sequence of the course includes the topics of proof, congruence, translations, rotations, reflections, dilations, quadrilaterals, parallel lines, and similarity. (MDH)

Presents a solution to the problem of helping high-risk students develop the mathematics skills they need. Suggests that individualized projects, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that are tied in with the real world, be employed to build student self-esteem. Appendices provide example projects. (MDH)

Presents a series of activities that help students discover the Pythagorean Theorem and extension activities to explore various dissection proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. Includes reproducible worksheets. (MDH)

Discusses the potential that school mathematics has for being a source of exploration and discovery for students and teachers. Provides a process-oriented definition of understanding mathematics. Presents activities in which students construct computer and actual models of polyhedra and make conjectures regarding a medical research application of…

Described are some of the visualization techniques employed in the computer-animated videotapes generated through the blending of commentary, animated imagery, music, and special effects. Instructions for procurement are included for these tapes, which are produced by Project MATHEMATICS! at the California Institute of Technology. (JJK)

Describes NASA's Learning Technologies Project at the Glenn Research Center (Cleveland, Ohio) that conducts research into enhancing elementary and secondary school science and mathematics classrooms through videoconferencing technology. Discusses teachers' professional development videoconferences; distance learning; student videoconferences;…