Refutes the idea that critical thinking is not a skill by analyzing it from the phenomenological perspective of Edmund Husserl, and from the hermeneutic perspective of Martin Heidegger. Develops the thesis that critical thinking is a restructuring of schemata. Addresses the problem of attention or student engagement. (LS)

Reports on a study that investigated the effectiveness and efficiency of computer classroom drill for learning bass clef notes. Compared posttest results among students with differing cognitive styles. Concludes that computer assisted instruction is an effective way to teach music skills, allowing teachers to focus on teaching aesthetic aspects of…

Investigates the influence of five cognitive variables on high school students' performance on balancing chemical equations by inspection. Reports that reasoning, restructuring, and disembedding variables could be a single variable, and that working memory capacity does not influence overall performance. Results of hierarchical regression analysis…

Reports a study which identified different problem-solving strategies among Hong Kong high school chemistry students. Finds that student experts employed a recognition plus a working forwards strategy, whereas student novices attempted a means-end analysis to create a solution procedure. Comparisons were made with problem-solving in physics. (GG)

Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences posits that individuals are somewhat intelligent in linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal areas. Standardized tests measure only language and math skills. Multiple-intelligence-based pilot projects include Indianapolis's Flow Room,…

A discussion of gender differences in human development and language use is followed by reports of research on styles and strategies in learning a second or foreign language. Instructional implications for second-language classrooms are highlighted. (Contains 100 references.) (Author/LB)

Presents a model that suggests the cognitive style and personality traits that are likely to affect programming stages and empirically investigates 1 portion of that model with 192 college students. Correlations between results from the Group Embedded Figures Test and design and coding tasks are discussed. (LRW)

Examines the needs of culturally-diverse students in grades 3 to 12, defines different learning styles, and identifies cultural values that impact on the learning process among Hispanic Americans. Also reviews research on learning styles of this population, and discusses implications of research findings on counseling and teaching Hispanic youth.…

Integrating art into the curriculum engages most students, enhances their creative expression, and benefits them academically. Even bored, rebellious, and unmotivated students respond to the arts. Elliot Eisner and other discipline-based art education proponents feel the arts are central to enjoyable learning. Exemplary K-12 programs are…

Presents a simple technique to encourage independent student work in all subjects and grade levels. A plastic file box is kept for each subject and contains information needed to complete assignments, such as multiplication tables, maps, alphabets, and lists of parts of speech. Notes that using resources to complete assignments independently…

This article argues that decisions regarding identification, instruction, and programming for gifted students need to take into account not only their abilities but their styles of thinking. The article discusses the theory of mental self-government; data gathered from testing the theory; and relevance of thinking styles to decisions regarding…

Two studies (n=228 and n=175) showed that college students more readily solve proportion problems if the items in the problem are relatively distinct from one another. Translation of units of one item into units of another is easier if the items are substantially different. (MDH)

A study investigated the relationship between learning style (visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic) and class attendance in 74 2-year college students in their first quarter. Although no statistically significant relationships were found, the only positive correlation between attendance and learning style was among kinesthetic…

Examines people's behavior in the Monty Hall Dilemma (MHD), in which a person must make two decisions to win a prize. In a series of five studies, found that people misapprehend probabilities in the MHD. Discusses the MHD's relation to illusion of control, belief perseverance, and the status quo bias. (RJM)

A study of 310 British school leaders' learning style preferences identifies a trend toward activist, as opposed to reflector, theorist, and pragmatist approaches. Education Reform Act changes are pressuring headteachers to act quickly and decisively as part of whole-school management teams. This has weakened their perception that analysis,…