Describes a summer mathematics institute designed for the professional development of practicing elementary teachers who need to implement NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) standards in mathematics education. Highlights include task analysis, manipulated mathematics, computer transition activities, curriculum-based assessment, and…

Describes a study examining the level and extent of support services available to developmental students at 101 2-year institutions in the southeastern United States. Reports that 91.1% of the institutions offered some type of services for developmental learners, including tutoring, counseling, computer-assisted instruction, audio-visual support,…

Describes a study analyzing the effects of time patterns in three short stories on the level of engagement of four remedial reading college freshmen. Describes engaged and disengaged types of reader interaction. Indicates that stories featuring chronological order garnered similar responses from both types, whereas time-shifts discouraged…

Examines the Motivational Theory and Time Continuum models of developmental student motivation, focusing on teacher responsibilities. Indicates that blending the two models provides a procedure for analyzing the student audience, a list of potential motivational strategies, and suggestions for constructing motivational objectives. (15 citations)…

Reviews four specific prewriting activities designed to foster prewriting and avoid premature drafting on the computer: freewriting, electronic journal-keeping, idea-generation, and online "conversations." Provides hints for developing lesson files, reviews current prewriting and hypertext software, and provides tips on selecting software. (14…

Describes the characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs), indicating that they are an increasing part of the college campus population. Discusses nine steps that instructors may take to assist the academic success of ACOAs. Indicates that college staff must recognize the syndrome and provide a therapeutic environment for students. (14…

Discusses the etiology and characteristics of some of the emotional and social problems that learning-disabled college students might experience. Makes recommendations about possible treatments. Indicates that students with learning disabilities may exhibit psychosocial problems, in addition to academic deficiencies, related to their disabilities.…

Introduces the idea of using computer microworlds--interactive software for exploration of specific concepts--for mathematics education, the theme of this issue's articles. Discusses their development and the advantages of their use. Suggests that they can be successfully used for interactive teaching or for interpreting mathematics textbooks,…

Uses work on children's counting schemes and a radical constructivist orientation to describe the development of computer microworlds for the teaching of rational numbers. Suggests that the design of complex software systems needs a strong theoretical background to provide direction for the design. Suggests that computer environments are the…

Interprets and contrasts children's mathematical interaction from the points of view of radical constructivism and of Soviet activity theory. Proposes a superseding model based on the interrelations between the basic sequence of actions and perturbation and the interaction of constructs. Supports the model by describing how children used…

Uses the constructivist principle of active learning to explore the possibly essential elements in transforming a cognitive play activity into mathematical activity. Suggests that for such transformation to occur, cognitive play activity must involve operations of intelligence that, yield situations of mathematical schemes. Illustrates the…

Comments on the Fractions Project presented in this same issue. Discusses two major ideas: the construction of mathematics of children and its basis and playful actions as a basis for mathematical actions. Highlights the understanding of children's mathematical concepts and schemes as they grow and are organized in the context of computer…

Comments on the Fraction Project presented in this same issue. Examines the choice of appropriate perspectives on the phenomena induced and observed and the generalizability of the results. Investigates the phenomena as involving student attunement to constraints built into the computer-based learning environments and in terms of explicit…

Comments on the Fraction Project presented in this same issue. Suggests that it has uncovered many implications for instruction. However, there are limitations as the proposed setting is restricted by the present school circumstances. Concludes that better learning will not come from finding better ways for teachers to instruct but from giving the…

Proposes a new model of children's mathematics by composing aspects of the Fraction Project and critiques presented in the same issue. Argues that computer microworlds provide children with dynamic learning environments in which they are the primary actors and teachers with a medium for interact with children's mathematics while trying to maintain…