A discussion of creativity and curiosity, particularly in the context of college instruction, examines two psychological models of creativity, the cognitive approach of Howard Gardner and one aligned with depth psychology (James Hillman). Commonalities are noted: preference for mess over management and for boundaries transgressed rather than…

Despite its failings, Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" is valuable for emphasizing cognition as significantly affecting human performance and social achievement; acknowledging human differences; and offering a frightening depiction of contemporary American society. The authors err in reducing intelligence to a stable, immutable…

Focuses on the nature of understanding by detailing the process of clinical interviewing. Examples from experiential learning in curriculum and teacher development lead to discussion of curriculum activity that celebrates the complexity of subject matter and the value of engaging learners in pursuing their own learning. (SK)

Reviews a central problem of Piagetian theory, that of necessary knowledge, or knowledge that must necessarily follow from previously accepted information. Discusses three implications of this problem for education: (1) assessment of children's judgments and justifications; (2) intellectual development over time and according to developmental…

Some teachers believe that children will not learn unless they are entertained. However, in "Talented Teenagers: The Roots of Success and Failure," Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reports that teens are most interested in school when the classes are demanding and they can stretch their brain power. Only entertaining students will prepare them…

Reports on the results of a two-year longitudinal study of mother-infant dyads (N=23) observed during a free-play session when infants were six and eight months of age. Children were assessed for language and intellectual outcomes during the second and third years of life. This information may help school professionals design effective strategies…

Critiques recent research on the effects of birth order on intelligence and personality, which found that the between-family design revealed that birth order negatively related to intelligence, while the within-family design revealed that birth order was unrelated to intelligence. Suggests that it may not be intelligence that co-varies with birth…

Critiques Rodgers et al.'s June 2000 research on the relation between birth order and intelligence, which suggests that it is a methodological illusion. Explains how the intellectual environment and the teaching function (whereby older children tutor younger ones) contribute to the growth of intellectual maturity, the first negatively and the…

Describes the importance of research activities for undergraduates at colleges and universities. Benefits to the student of direct or indirect research include increased knowledge, understanding, enthusiasm, interest, and curiosity about the material. (SAH)

Brings the pragmatic and educational goals of language study together through the concept of narrative imagination, which suggests that the study of literary texts promotes civic and intellectual development and allows students to see the world from another point of view. Sets forth five interconnected reading goals as guides for adapting…

Examines students' learning and intellectual development while living in formal learning communities in residence halls. Students in residential learning communities had significantly higher levels of involvement, interaction, and gains in learning and intellectual development than did students in traditional residence halls. Participation in…

Disputes claims in recent report by US-based Alliance for Children that the use of computers by children threatens their creative and intellectual development. Describes two case studies of the creative uses of computers in United Kingdom elementary school classrooms. (Contains 17 references.) (PKP)

Affirmative action is a necessary but not sufficient condition for diversifying graduate school. Increasing diversity requires us to capitalize on unintended consequences. Adopting the philosophy of intellectual entrepreneurship, although valuable to all students and disciplines, may have a special and perhaps more substantial impact on…

Through interaction with digital technologies for work, play, and communication, the pattern for intellectual development is being altered. The multiple intelligences theoretical framework developed by Gardner (1983) is easily employed to provide evidence that yet another intelligence, digital intelligence, has emerged. In a postmodern pluralistic…

This article discusses the innovative minority. Gifted students differ from the average students. There are those who argue that the differences are a matter merely of quantitative degree reference studies of IQ scores, or SAT scores, which are clearly quantitative scales, and point out that gifted students appear at the top level of these scales…