"Advances in Education Research" reprints previously published journal articles reporting on research supported in whole or in part by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). The articles are selected from peer-reviewed/referred journals; the journals used are described briefy at the end of the volume. The articles in…

Differences among students can yield rich benefits as well as pose difficult problems during collaborative learning. Students can draw on diverse individual experiences to exchange information, to understand different expressions of shared commonalities, and to construct new possibilities jointly. However, they also face the potential pitfalls of…

Evolution is often equated with natural selection and is taught from a primarily functional perspective while comparative and historical approaches, which are critical for developing an appreciation of the power of evolutionary theory, are often neglected. This report describes a study of expert problem-solving in phylogenetic tree construction.…

This paper discusses peace education curriculum in the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Public School district. The peace education promotion has been in existence for 10 years and was created in response to rising levels of violence. Specifically examined are the uses of peace education at Fritsche Middle School, a school that has proven the positive…

This guide to academic achievement in courses that require problem solving shows the student how to see things as the teacher sees them. The student who sees with the professor's eyes can cut through the useless and irrelevant activities that interfere with real achievement. The approach, which requires that the student do all required work, is…

The standards developed for reform in mathematics education by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) de-emphasize the algorithmic manipulation of mathematical symbols. The NCTM takes the position that the rapidly changing workplace is an environment that requires problem-solving skills with computers being used to perform routine…

The Eisenhower Leadership Development Program at Texas A&M University was created to provide students with an academic perspective on the issues facing leaders, particularly in the areas of health policy, economic development, education, and technology and innovation. Based on the work provided by leadership researchers and educators, the…

Organized around the theme of school violence, this booklet provides teachers and lawyers with classroom materials for elementary grades 4-6 (Level A), intermediate grades 6-8 (Level B), and high school grades 9-12 (Level C). In addition, each level contains pages for the lawyer (marked by the scales of justice), the teacher (an apple), and the…

Site-based management is a concept whose time has come. This book was designed to introduce the concept of teaming, elaborate the decision-making process, and describe the skills and processes needed for a variety of decision-making situations. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of teaming and discusses the decision-making process in depth. Chapters…

This paper summarizes a pair of studies titled "The Impact of Longer Term Intervention on Reforming the Approaches to Instruction in Chemistry by Urban Teachers of Physical and Life Sciences at the Secondary School Level" (William J. Priestley, Holly D. Priestley, and Joseph S. Schuckler) and "Profile of Instructional Practices…

Part of the Fastback series from Phi Delta Kappa, this publication provides background information and several educational applications of modeling for use with students from elementary school to college. It contains a rationale for employing mathematical modeling in instruction, specific examples, strategies for grouping students using technology…

How teachers create and foster a learning environment that promotes creative thinking and problem solving skills in students was investigated in a 1-year study in a community college in Texas. The study explored the teaching methods and classroom climates created by eight exemplary teachers who demonstrated exceptional approaches to promote…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics'"Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" envision an interdisciplinary approach to mathematics that allows children to communicate their ideas in the process of solving real problems. This book promotes the connection between mathematics and children's literature as part of realizing that…

A study investigated the need and appropriate design for an inservice training program for teachers in a multicultural educational program in the Philippines called "Preparing Refugees for Elementary Programs," or PREP. The PREP program provides classroom instruction to Indonesian refugee children 6.5 to 11 years of age and is…

This report describes an experiment to provide an inservice program involving problem solving and inquiry, in line with the new Scottish National Guidelines in mathematics, that would have a lasting effect on teachers. The program featured two stages: (1) In the first year teachers were involved in a pair of workshops, were visited at their…