Reviews the use of computers in the teaching and practice of writing in university courses. Highlights include hardware considerations; software options for grammar, punctuation, stylistic analysis, and prewriting (or invention) skills; artificial intelligence, composition, and literature; collaborative learning; and faculty development. (LRW)

Examines some of the assumptions associated with attempts to define the "engineering method." Critiques a previously stated definition of this method, and offers an alternative definition that attempts to include the ideas put forth in the previous definition. Discusses the use of engineering heuristics in both definitions. (TW)

Gives recommendations for sequencing writing assignments in courses structured by genre or definition, by chronology, and by theme. (CRH)

This paper conceptually explains higher-order factor analysis and methods for interpretation. A review of first-order factor analysis is presented that provides the foundation for the summary of second-order factor analysis. Higher order factors are derived from the correlations between the lower-level factors. An example study is provided to make…

As the value of media-delivered information is increasingly emphasized as a powerful instructional tool, user knowledge gains are being more frequently investigated. Formative evaluation techniques that assess learning are often employed. While it is important to appraise this aspect of an instructional program or Web site, it is also necessary to…

In a year-long, school-based teacher education project, primary school teachers were given workshop- and classroom-based support, including sustained mentoring, as they appropriated a generative heuristic for teaching technology and science. Dialogs show how a mentor supported one teacher as she aligned her former instructionist teaching methods…

A semantic mapping heuristic is presented which provides an instructional strategy for teaching notetaking, recognizing main ideas and pertinent details, and sorting and organizing them into a report. The strategy enables learning-disabled students to read independently about a topic and subsequently write a report, thus establishing a…

Examines the importance of learning environments as sites for change in science education, describing work with elementary teachers in which researchers are designing learning environments featuring guided inquiry. After explaining how to plan and enact guided inquiry instruction in science, the paper reflects on experiences implementing it in…

Describes experiential learning instructional model and simulation for student principals. Describes interactive laser videodisc simulation. Reports preliminary findings about student principal learning from simulation. Examines learning approaches by unsuccessful and successful students and learning levels of model learners. Simulation's success…

Reacts to Ohlsson, Ernst, and Rees' paper by initially discussing the costs of methodology that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to model cognitive processes. Raises three concerns with the paper: insufficient clarification of the meaning of conceptual versus procedural understanding of base-10 subtraction; realism of the learning model; and…

Described is a study in which elementary education students were asked to solve word problems by looking at the mathematical structure or the surface structure of the problems. Included are the methodology, data analysis, results, and discussion. The word problems used in the study are appended. (KR)

Presents a study to determine whether computer use in guided-discovery learning episodes would enhance the problem-solving ability of secondary school students (n=147). Results indicate interaction between low- and middle-level students' mathematical achievement and treatment groups, while high-level students performed well regardless of approach.…

The paper describes the details and use with primary school teachers of a problem-solving activity known as the King Alfred's College Maths Game. The game demonstrates to teachers that problem solving needs to be approached through structured learning experiences that provide material for reflection and questioning. (Author/MDH)

This study investigated sex differences in chemical problem solving among Nigerian secondary school chemistry students (100 males and 100 females). Male students excelled over the female students in the following problem-solving processes: (1) problem understanding; (2) construction and execution of solution plans; (3) exhibition of structural…

Discusses the various characteristics of print on paper and postulates the foreseeable changes to a more modular form of communication in an electronic environment. Discusses the functions of the present-day scientific article. Emphasizes the demands of readers in their various consumer roles. Outlines a new heuristic model for a modular…