The ways in which students in grades five and six solve problems is the focus of this paper, which provides background for the staff of the Skills Essential to Learning Television Project, (a multi-level series of video and print resources for classroom use). It considers the problem-solving process categories of understanding, transformation, and…

Some basic concerns about the proliferation of computers in schools are stated: (1) Educational goals for children should be established as a first priority, then what computers can do to help achieve those goals should be examined; (2) Very few pieces of software are useful in schools, and teacher education programs should explore what is needed…

If microcomputers are used as automated testing stations, for use in psychometric assessment, there are economic advantages. Discussion follows, however, on whether it is possible to improve the quality of cognitive assessment by extending the range of cognitive abilities to be assessed. Two types of extension are considered: modifying and…

This discussion of questions related to the most appropriate role for the computer in undergraduate postsecondary education begins by describing the Educational Testing Service's evaluations of two large-scale funded projects intended to stimulate the incorporation of computer assisted instruction (CAI) into undergraduate instruction--the…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on human development, student characteristics, and learning styles. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of Practice for Teachers: The Challenge of Public Law 94-142 to Teacher Education." These clusters form…

As consciousness becomes a more viable field of investigation and research, more attempts are being made to examine states of consciousness and their effects on certain abilities. A meta-analysis was used to examine the state of relaxation and its effects on learning, performance, and academic achievement. A search of PsychINFO, the data base of…

Some of the ways young children initially approach writing, including their understanding and involvement with the writing process, is the focus of this paper. It illustrates the variety of ways children deal with the concept of spaces between words, the differences between printed and cursive writing, and the left-to-right, top-to-bottom…

This paper compares three analyses of stimulated-recall data gathered in interviews with 24 elementary school teachers who were reporting their interactive decision making (IDM). Two analyses were quantitative--one an experimental design, the other a content analysis--and one was qualitative. The experimental study found that teachers' reflection…

Through the years teachers have developed a systematic approach to teaching logic, order, and structure. This approach has put to use the capabilities of only the left side of the brain, neglecting the right-brain activities of visual literacy and visual clustering. To help students organize information efficiently, teachers should provide…

This theoretical paper utilizes cybernetic-­based approaches (Bopry, 1999; Wiener, 1954) and communications theory (Habermas, 1984, 1990; Krippendorff, 1994) to advance knowledge of constructivist learning. I argue that past educational research literature on constructivist learning is partly responsible for limiting how educational designers…

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself, "wrote Leo Tolstoy. Have you ever thought about how learning changes your brain? If yes, this paper may help you explore the research that will change our learning landscape in the next few years! Recent developers in the neurosciences and education research…

Examines the way children learn from each other in the science classroom, and in particular deals with the question: "What can we do in teacher training to help teachers learn how to foster child-child learning?" (JR)

This paper develops the thesis that the knowledge a person possesses has a potent influence on what he or she will learn and remember from exposure to discourse. After outlining some assumptions about the characteristics of the structures (schemata) in which existing knowledge is packaged, a theory of the processes involved in assimilating the…

This paper presents the thesis that information gained from the extensive research on conservation training can be utilized in planning curriculum content and teaching strategies, especially in concept acquisition. It is suggested that precise teaching techniques have been created and evaluated in studies of conservation training, and that every…