Although mathematics deals with generalizations relating abstract ideas, very little attention has been given in the mathematics education literature to the role of abstraction and generalization in the development of mathematical knowledge. In this paper, the meanings of "abstraction" and "generalization" are first explored by…

The paper presents literature related to the problems and promises of interdisciplinary work. Important characteristics of effective work groups are described, and origins of difficulty in groups are discussed. Most work on groups has been based on research on groups that come together only in the laboratory. These groups are different from…

The alternative school provides a specific institutional discourse, official and unofficial, that shapes the ways in which alternative school students participate in a particular discursive practice. The alternative school plays a crucial role in developing students aspirations by enabling them to envision a better future. Moreover, it helps…

This study investigated the metacognitive knowledge, especially declarative and procedural knowledge, of Taiwanese university students who majored in English and were considered skilled writers. Researchers examined their metacognitive processes and writing strategies using introspective interviews that highlighted the following: their experiences…

A number of projects over the past decade, in a range of educational contexts, have sought to link forms and patterns of communicative interaction to improvements in knowledge, conceptual understanding and reasoning skills. These initiatives have produced dialog models, methodologies for developing these in ways that lead to the design of…

Computer programming is a domain of knowledge that is generally considered difficult by students, many of whom experience low levels of achievement and become disillusioned. This paper suggests that cognitive load theory needs to be taken into account when designing instructional materials for this domain. The cognitive load that is experienced by…

The New Synthesis approach views learning as an active process by which learners create knowledge structures or mental representations. This book attempts to give classroom teachers alternative ways of assessing how their learners think, what they know, and what they can do. The chapters are: (1) "Teaching, Motivation, and Testing"; (2) "Academic…

The purpose of this study was to investigate students developing understanding of concepts related to rate of change. Twenty students first participated in a rate of change curriculum unit as part of an after school math and technology program. During the unit, students used motion detectors and related graphing software to create and analyze…

This study combines a trichotomous motivational variable (mastery goal, performance approach, and performance avoidance goal) with an information-processing variable referred to as depth of processing, to investigate the effects of motivation on the encoding and recall of verbal information with a sample of infants and primary grade students…

This guide uses current brain research to show that some traditional instructional and assessment methods may actually work against the brain's natural way of learning. The guide shows how to enhance traditional methods of assessment using techniques derived from recent research on the brain. Practical approaches to assessment are illustrated with…

The theme of the 2000 issue of Pedagogy Journal is finding a "sense of place" within the higher education community. Articles contained discuss this issue as it pertains to different aspects of the postsecondary system. These articles include: (1) "The Role of Left-Brain/Right-Brain Learning Theory in Personal Computer Courses" (Jack Wakelin); (2)…

Nonverbal learning disorders are less common than the typical language-based learning disabilities identified by school staff. Appropriate intervention is highly dependent on the accurate diagnosis of this disorder. Emphasis on performance and behavior management often obscures the etiology of a child's difficulties and leads to ineffective…

The Web offers the perfect technology and environment for precision learning because learners can be uniquely identified, relevant content can be specifically personalized, and subsequent response and progress can be monitored, supported, and assessed. Technologically, researchers are making rapid progress realizing the personalized learning dream…

The University of Maryland offers a physics course as part of the Maryland Collaborative for Teachers' Preparation (MCTP) project. One of the course aims is to promote the learning of the concept of a function through the learning of physics. Students learn in small groups through problem solving and with the aid of microcomputer-based…

The purpose of this study is to contribute information in the field of dynamic assessment regarding the Application of Cognitive Functions Scale (ACFS) (C. Lidz and R. Jepsen, 1996). The goal of this new procedure is to help establish a zone of proximal development and to assess the young child's emerging skills necessary for school learning.…