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.…

Describes an assignment sequence using photographs to introduce developmental students to conventions of academic inquiry, and to give them practice analyzing and synthesizing. Reports that students link details observed in the photos to inferences drawn about them. Concentrates on the assignment linking a photo of E. B. White with an essay by him…

Encourages the use of integrated prereading, prewriting, and critical thinking activities in music classes to help students appreciate and understand the process of musical composition. Discusses using freewriting, journal writing, directed reading, and extended activities in music appreciation, performance, and composition classes. (SKC)

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…

Describes some ways computers can help students develop thinking skills in the social studies. Emphasizes the use of data bases, simulations, and tutorials to teach thinking skills. Questions whether computers can do a better job of teaching students to think and reason than alternative methods. (RKM)

Critical thinking is seldom effective at encouraging students to challenge and examine preconceived positions. There is a tendency to use the rigorous questioning methods to defend preconceived positions and deflect the serious consideration of alternatives. An exercise that focused on the Cuban missile crisis is described. (MLW)

Examines the problem-solving strategies of experts and novices. Summarizes the overall performance of four experts and eight novices. Examines several protocols in depth in order to show how subjects introduced new terms and relationships during problem solving sessions. Compares the strategies of expert and novice problem solvers. (CW)

Responds to Barry Brummett's criticism of a previous article by the author suggesting techniques for dealing with fundamentalist Christian students in speech classes. Considers the merits of Brummett's counter proposal and suggests that public speaking courses should not aim to convert absolutist students to relativism but teach them to adapt…

Describes the Perseus Project, an educational program utilizing computer technology to study ancient Greek civilization. Including approximately 10 percent of all ancient literature and visual information on architecture, sculpture, ceramics, topography, and archaeology, the project spans a range of disciplines. States that Perseus fuels student…

Argues that contributors to the "No Comment" feature of "Ms." magazine are engaging in oppositional decoding and speculates on why this is a satisfying group process. Also notes such decoding presents another challenge to the idea that mass media has the same effect on all audiences. (SD)

A senior seminar in corporate responsibility that emphasizes critical thinking and value-based judgment and includes pre-interviews, team presentations, a life-goal inventory, and a final interview is described, and its success in preparing students for employment interviews and in promoting student-teacher rapport is discussed. (MSE)

Discusses three goals from research that can be served by incorporating writing into the middle school social studies curriculum. These include: (1) assisting students in learning social studies content, (2) promoting critical thinking skills in students, and (3) enhancing linkages between students and their communities. Implies student writing…

Considers the neglected majority of non-college-bound students who are frequently shunted into general education tracks or "career education" dumping grounds. Advances a broadly based "tech-prep" associate degree program starting junior year that prepares students for technical careers and emphasizes critical thinking skills and lifelong learning.…

Recent studies indicate that the popular acceptance of linking education instrumentally to high technology leads to contradictory outcomes (for example, Sweet 1984, Rumberger and Levin 1985). Education is better directed toward the more fundamental skills of criticism and reflection on these technological changes in society. (24 references) (CJH)

Examines the interpretation of social studies found in 96 Egyptian teachers-in-training using the Barth/Shermis Social Studies Preference Scale. Results showed the subjects had not developed a meaning for social studies as conceptualized in the United States. Implications of this finding are discussed. (TRS)