From a constructivist perspective, the World Wide Web offers students an opportunity to be engaged in sense making, problem solving, and open investigation of the learning process. Students have access to a wide range of information, can develop in socially relevant ways, and are empowered. Selected Web sites (i.e. the White House home page) are…

Compares collaborative problem solving by learners sitting side-by-side with computer-mediated learning at a distance. Three aspects are studied: high school students' problem- solving strategies and interpretation of the teaching situation; their use of components of the situation; and the cognitive processes involved in understanding domain…

Examines the processes employed by subjects in Hong Kong engaged in an English-as-a-Second-Language discourse cloze test. Think-aloud protocols obtained from test-takers indicate the reasoning and strategies employed in selecting items to complete gaps in the cloze passage. Findings reveal the test-taking behavior of the subjects and presents a…

Suggests that lifelong learning will depend on the development of cognitive skills, but that such skills can be elusive and cannot in general be picked up in specialized courses or workshops. Supports this position by literature references followed by further suggestions for a course of action for the development of language facility through close…

Discusses research on different types of computer-based learning environments that indirectly foster self-explanations, and discusses ways of leveraging new computer and video technologies to enhance these environments by representing problem situations and their concepts dynamically. Concludes by suggesting that these learning environments can…

Two studies examined schematic information processing as a function of attractiveness stereotyping among 3- to 7- year-olds. Found that children made more errors identifying female characters with stereotype-inconsistent traits but either did just the opposite with male characters or had no difference in errors with male characters. Findings pose…

This article discusses the interaction of infant social and cognitive development, and presents preliminary findings from a longitudinal study of infants with and without Down syndrome. Evidence suggests that the development of triadic (person-person-world) social interactions may be affected by limited information processing capacities in infants…

Describes the effects of an undergraduate learner-centered community of learners approach to instruction on student motivation and cognitive learning strategies. Discusses objectives, including integrated courses, active and collaborative learning, and opportunities for learning through information technology and library resources; and describes…

Examines the applicability of Kuhlthau's Information Search Process Model in the context of a virtual learning environment at the University of North Texas that used virtual collaborative software. Highlights include cognitive and affective aspects of information seeking; computer experience and confidence; and implications for future research.…

A study examined how self-efficacy beliefs influenced motivation, affect, and adjustment in five students aged 9-13 with cancer, receiving educational services in a hospital setting. Education was an effective vehicle through which children with cancer could experience control and autonomy and also achieve many necessary developmental outcomes for…

Reports on a pilot study that investigated the creative impact of information and communication technology (ICT) in a grade 6 class in England. Presents a model of creativity that includes problem solving, creative cognition, and social interaction; and discusses the creation of personal Web pages. (Author/LRW)

The performance of 24 language-disordered children (ages 3-8) on an ambiguity detection task was compared to that of children matched for comprehension level and children matched for cognitive level. It is concluded that communicative factors, both active primary comprehension and social communicative knowledge, had a stronger influence than the…

Differences in critical thinking between undergraduate and graduate students in the social and mathematical sciences was investigated using multiple measures of critical thinking that reflect different types of problem structure. Educational level and academic area differences were found across measures. (Author/MLW)

Presents guidelines for developing computer-assisted instructional materials that are based on theoretical instructional theories, including behaviorism; neobehaviorism (imitation and modeling); information processing; cognitive psychology; and learning styles. Guidelines highlight feedback and reinforcement, practice opportunities, sequencing,…

Compares BASIC and LOGO systems in developing artificial intelligence systems. Provides listings of programs used for translating and sentence making. Describes methodology and compares the BASIC and LOGO programs. (MVL)