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Offers LOGO as an environment that facilitates the development of cognitive strategies useful in problem solving. Presents LOGO activities requiring students to combine preprogramed procedures to produce worksheet patterns. Using this approach promotes using LOGO as a vehicle for problem solving and results in a more positive attitude toward LOGO. (MDH)

Describes science and mathematics projects in Thailand and Australia that emphasize material, teacher, and curriculum development. Three separate models are diagramatically explained. Suggested approaches for instructional improvement are discussed. Rating and analysis in terms of teacher and specialist inputs and cost factors are also presented. (ML)

Seventy fifth-grade students in Australia were observed as each solved a jigsaw puzzle. Boys obtained higher scores on a measure of cognitive style and took less time to complete the jigsaw task; the two measures were significantly correlated. Uses of tangrams are also discussed. (MNS)

Control group students (receiving descriptive, non-inquiry science) and experimental group students (using Science Curriculum Improvement Study-SCIS "Interaction and Systems" materials) were later combined in grade 4 for instruction with SCIS "Subsystems and Variables" materials. Results show similar difficulties in learning system concepts between United States and Australian students. (DH)

Discusses the difficulties which students have in interpreting science diagrams and the ways in which some diagrams may be misleading. Presents several diagrams as examples. (YP)

Ascertained whether chemistry instructors have a consistent preference for particular ways of idea expression by chemistry students. Comparisons of responses on a chemistry preference test were made among chemistry instructors, chemistry majors and nonscience majors. (CS)

Discusses the need for preservice elementary teachers to experience inquiry first-hand, suggesting that they engage in problem-solving rather than just "talking about" it. A typical teacher education program is described with suggestions to incorporate inquiry-oriented experiences. An inquiry-oriented activity using sand and funnels is included. (DH)

Reports the results of a cross-cultural study of the development of five spatial competencies in samples of Thai and Australian children. The pattern of development was found to be similar for seven- and eight-year-olds but different for four- and five-year-olds. (Author/JN)

The article presents a study regarding the language preferences of freshman chemistry students in higher education. It was conducted through the development of chemistry preference test. Most chemistry instructors use different levels and forms of language in lecture, tutorials, and laboratory settings. However, freshman chemistry students are not familiar of such language signals and shifts or the associated conventions. It was revealed that a small group of chemistry teachers adopted the same alternative on a cognitive preference test concerned with the language of chemistry. Freshman chemistry students exposed in different institutional settings were similar in their patterns of choice but differed from those chemistry instructors and nonscience students.