Representatives of the New York City Board of Education, the United Federation of Teachers, and the Public Education Association probe the decision making that governed the "Reduction in Force" of 16,000 New York City schoolteachers during the 1975-1977 fiscal crisis. (Editor)

Almost unknown a decade ago, student loans are becoming one of the fastest-growing and most controversial issues in American higher education. Various opinions are given on how to solve the problem of helping students to finance their education through loans while not over-burdening them financially after they graduate. (Author/RK)

Elementary school students (12 year olds) and two groups of 13 year old grammar school students were involved in an experiment which measured the ability to recognize the concept of controlling variables. In addition, ability to transfer learning to another situation was tested. (CP)

Strategies for teaching couples how to solve their marital problems more effectively is an important part of a social learning or behaviorial approach. Couples need to possess and implement certain problem-solving skills not typically present in the repertoires of distressed couples. (Author)

Presents a categorization system that allows potential microcomputer users to make more reasoned, conscious choices to ensure that a range of software types and activities are available for their instructional programs. (SRT)

In three major reports on higher education, some common problems emerged as recurrent themes: the absence of faculty responsibility for the curriculum as a whole, the lack of structure in baccalaureate programs, emphasis on specialization results in a tendency to downplay the humanities, thinking and problem solving skills are neglected. (MLW)

Describes 10 key elements of generic teaching strategies for developing student thinking and provides a rationale for the participation of school library media specialists in developing student thinking skills. The role of media specialists within the school and the importance of information-based decision making in a free society are discussed.…

A study of 753 utilities company workers examined the relationship between a measure of worker self-directed learning readiness and their job level, sex, age, education, race, job performance rating, creativity and problem-solving ability needed in their jobs, and the degree of change inherent in their work. (Author/MSE)

This discussion of five areas in which computer based training can have an impact on the instructional process focuses primarily on its use to model and test the decision making process through interactive simulations. A listing of computer based training courseware vendors and authoring systems is provided. (CLB)

Reexamines the environmental problem-solving focus of environmental education. Critiques the view of environment and the concept of environmental problems. Provides a feminist perspective on analyzing environmental issues. Argues that this approach develops a better understanding of the problems and their potential solutions. (TW)

Argues that construction of knowledge bases is an instructional tool that encourages students' critical thinking in problem solving situations through metacognitive experiences. A study is described in which college students created expert systems to test the effectiveness of this method of instruction, and benefits for students and teachers are…

High-masculinity subjects, compared to low-masculinity persons, scored significantly lower on self-report measures of depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. No differences in distress were found as a function of sex or of the femininity dimension. High-masculine subjects also rated their problem-solving ability as more effective.…

Contends that the major use and promise of computer aided learning (CAL) lies in the provision of secondary teaching support such as simulations, interactive tutorials, and similar activities. Reviews the uses and benefits of CAL in demonstrations, experiments, exercises, and interactive tutorials. (ML)

Differentiates between problems, exercises and algorithms. Discusses the role of algorithms in solving problems and exercises in chemistry. Suggests that very real differences exist between solving problems and exercises, and that problem solving steps can be and should be taught in chemistry education. (TW)

Three forces are combining to mandate a more highly skilled work force: (1) technological advancement, (2) job growth centered on high-skill occupations, and (3) new work organizational strategies. As many as 50 million workers, many of them minorities and immigrants, may have to be trained or retrained in the next 12 years. (CH)