This paper reviews the process-product literature on effective teaching and suggests a conceptual framework focusing on teacher behaviors associated with development of higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities. These behaviors involve, among others, embedding instruction in meaningful and purposive activities and promoting classroom…

Ripon College (Wisconsin) has developed "colearner" classes as part of the Advance College Experience held each summer for academically able and motivated children. Two classes (in ornithology and computer programing/problem solving) were offered to 15 children and their adult partners (parents, other relatives, or friends). Special…

Describes a method of teaching geology and scientific writing to nonscience students that combines active integration of lecture, reading, and laboratory materials with field observations into a writing assignment on a real scientific problem. The writing assignment is completed in stages: a prospectus, a detailed report outline, a bibliography, a…

Examines the Teacher Assistance Team (TAT) approach in providing all students with individualized, supportive instructional alternatives in the classroom. Explains how the TAT is a cost- and time-effective approach for providing teacher support in handling "slow learners" and letting teachers have ownership and responsibility in dealing with…

Defines the mathematical concept of proportionality. Uses graphs of linear relationships to explore and make generalizations about the characteristics of proportional situations to help students critically evaluate problems involving proportions. (MDH)

Proposes helping students understand fractions by establishing connections between students' informal knowledge of fractions and the mathematical symbols used to represent fractions. Sample dialogues demonstrate how these connections can be made. (MDH)

Seventh-grade students (n=397) were studied to determine the effect on immediate achievement and retention of a unit designed to promote the development of estimating skills involved in metric measuring. Identical metric instruction was used with the exception of activities in estimation for the treatment group. The treatment group retained…

Discusses prerequisites that help students develop multiple strategies for solving problems as recommended in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics'"Curriculum and Evaluation Standards." Presents two examples of activities involving addition, subtraction, and permutations that promote multiple strategies. Suggests ways to…

Describes an instructional program designed to promote scientific literacy among middle grade students. The program used a collaborative group instruction approach and focused on the development of tasks that provided students with opportunities to solve problems and to employ concepts useful to scientific problem solving. (PAM)

Error frequency and language competence of bilingual grade 6 students were analyzed to determine the effect of language comprehension in errors made in solving mathematical word problems. Results provide support for the linkage of comprehension errors to measures of language competency. (29 references) (MDH)

Discusses "connectionism," an alternative learning model wherein meaning resides in the function of the whole state of a network, rather than being localizable in certain symbols or areas. Topics discussed include integration with other learning models; the culture of the mathematics classroom; and characteristics of alternative…

Describes the current state of knowledge about human decision-making and problem-solving processes, explaining recent developments and their implications for management and management training. Rational goal-setting is the key to effective decision making and accomplishment. Bounded rationality is a realistic orientation, because the world is too…

Leadership in the restructured school is provided by many individuals; teachers function as a community of scholars helping one another through discussions, coaching, and reflective activity. School leaders must acquire specific skills in certain areas, including vision setting, group process, conflict resolution, curriculum and instruction, and…

A University of Hawaii study compared objective and subjective assessments of the three-step triple jump examination which tests medical students' clinical problem-solving processes. Subjects were 58 first-year students. Results found the subjective assessments were more consistent across problems of varying difficulty level than were objective…

Discusses a pedagogical approach to calculus based on the question: What kinds of problems should students be able to solve? Includes a discussion of types of problems and curriculum threads for such a course. Describes a projects-based calculus with examples of projects and classroom activities. (Author/MDH)