This paper aims at defining and exploring design principles in a distance technological setting for an educational activity for mathematics undergraduate students, devoted to the construction of basic concepts in general topology, the promotion of problem-solving processes, the development of metacognitive aspects, and, in general, the development…

The name of Zoltan P. Dienes (1916- ) stands with those of Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Edward Begle, and Robert Davis as a legendary figure whose work left a lasting impression on the field of mathematics education. Dienes' name is synonymous with the multibase blocks that he invented for the teaching of place value. Among numerous other things,…

Discusses the development, administration, and evaluation of the Test of Metalinguistic Ability (TAM). Developed at the University of Rome, the TAM consists of 96 items divided into 6 parts: comprehension, synonyms, acceptability, ambiguity, grammatical function, and phonemic segmentation. (CFM)

This paper reports on a pilot research project aimed at helping to develop some strategic and reasoning abilities in primary school pupils by engaging them in educational itineraries based on the use of a number of computer mind games. The paper briefly describes the project's aims and organization, the kind of games used and the working…

Reports on a study of 43 Italian fifth-graders about their understanding of the functions of banks and the role of monetary interest in banking before and after a lesson on banking. Finds that most children could speak correctly about both deposit and loan interest and their relative amounts after the lesson. (CFR)

Criticizes the current method of formalization in Italian schools and the use of tools of the mathematical method. Proposes a general three-stage formalization method which can used for physical quantities, the particular significance of certain quantities, and the description and interpretation of phenomena. (TW)

Focuses on an area within pragmatics, that of speech acts, considers the underlying performance of such speech acts, and looks at the effects of explicit instruction in this area. The article makes distinctions in the description of speech acts, such as between sociocultural and sociolinguistic ability. (47 references) (Author/CK)

Maintains that there is increasing interest in the approach to art education in the Reggio Emilia schools in northern Italy. Describes the Emilia approach to early childhood education and characterizes it as child-centered and emergent. Includes a dialogue between a teacher and students using the approach. (CFR)