Surveys, interviews, and classroom observation revealed no difference in instructional flexibility between Australian rural and suburban secondary teachers. Despite smaller class sizes, rural teachers followed a dais-based model of information delivery. Adherence to an assessment-driven work program precluded attention to differences in student…

Interviews with 72 mixed ability students, aged 7 to 12, about arithmetic problem-solving strategies, indicated that the preference between procedural and deductive strategies becomes a divergent reality across ability levels. Among the conclusions is that more able children tend to be doing a qualitatively different sort of mathematics than their…

Learning environment that facilitated the acquisition and expression of procedural skills in LOGO was set up for children in the 10- to 12-year range. Ten participants were placed in a series of situations that required them to manipulate programing procedures in LOGO. Analysis of children's behavior revealed their competence in manipulating…

Describes the use of concept mapping (CM) in design, instruction, and assessment related to microbiology lessons prepared for high school students in Israel. Indicates that students utilizing CM displayed an overall, higher achievement gain than students in traditional classes. Recognizes that some teachers did not thoroughly exploit the potential…

Fifty-three elementary school children were tested on Incidental Science Knowledge, i.e., knowledge acquired by chance outside school, and the results obtained were correlated with intellectual development and cognitive style as measured by interviews and group testing, respectively. Indicates that cognitive style and misconception play a…

This study focuses on secondary students' (n=79) understanding of ecological concepts and the influence of field instruction strategies on their understanding and retention. Results indicate all groups exhibited statistically significant posttest gains and showed evidence of retaining the targeted concepts. (Author/MCO)

Learning outcomes of Alberta Native and non-Native adult learners were differentially affected by relative preference for visual versus verbal learning style. Also demonstrated were the importance of individual differences and the complex interaction of learning style preference, instructional materials, learning task, and cultural background.…

The author makes a case for keeping sensitivity and intuitive approaches in the science classroom. The importance of emotional connections with other organisms, considered a critical part of enriched, effective scientific thinking, is emphasized. Female and male learning styles are described. (KR)

Investigated the effects of studying an ecological system via computer simulation on 14- and 15-year-old students' (n=9) abilities to pose hypotheses; control and manipulate variables; and learn via icon, graph, and table display formats. Working with a simulation encouraged students to think hypothetically and test their hypotheses by controlling…

A discussion of the Linguistic Coding Deficit Hypothesis presents an overview of the theory; describes five prototypes of second-language learners, each illustrated by a distinct language processing profile; and examines how the ability to identify prototypes can help teachers interpret student difficulties and design instruction to address them.…

Compares the operational and sociomoral reasoning maturity of 70 deaf children with that of a sensory unimpaired control sample. Tests subjects individually on three Piagetian tasks, story pairs, and the concept of justice. Finds slower development of operational reasoning in the deaf children but comparable development in sociomoral reasoning.…

Measures the effects of cognitive-style field dependence/field independence on students' ability to discern form in music. Applies tests to 119 nonmusic majors enrolled in an introductory music course. Finds field-independent subjects scored significantly higher than field-dependent subjects. Identifies variables affecting learning for both…

Discussion of how to integrate computers into the classroom focuses on seven principles of instruction: (1) mastery learning; (2) overlearning and automaticity; (3) cooperative learning; (4) monitoring student progress; (5) immediate feedback; (6) learning styles; and (7) classroom management. Guidelines for using computers to support the…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics'"Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics" perceive teachers as key figures in changing the way mathematics is conceived and taught. Discusses research related to teacher reflection and its relation to classroom practice. (MDH)

Studied the relationships of socialization, child rearing, and primary cultural experiences and the impact of the acculturating experiences of living in the United States on the cognitive styles of 150 Laotian Hmong intermediate, middle, and high school students. Findings suggest that traditional socialization at home is being modified by these…