Applying Cognitive Science to Education: Thinking and Learning in Scientific and Other Complex Domains »

Frederick Reif is Emeritus Professor of Physics and Education at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, Berkeley.

An accessible introduction to some of the cognitive issues important for thinking and learning in scientific or other complex domains (such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, or expository writing), with practical educational applications and implementation methods.

I Basic Issues 1

1 Performance, Learning, and Teaching 3

2 Intellectual Performance 11

II Good Performance 27

II-A Usability 29

3 Important Kinds of Knowledge 31

4 Specifying and Interpreting Concepts 43

5 Interpreting Scientific Concepts 61

6 Managing Memory 85

II-B Effectiveness 101

7 Methods and Inferences 103

8 Describing Knowledge 119

9 Organizing Knowledge 137

II-C Flexibility 163

10 Making Decisions 165

11 Introduction to Problem Solving 189

12 Systematic Problem Solving 201

13 Dealing with Complex Problems 229

II-D Efficiency 255

14 Efficiency and Compiled Knowledge 257

II-E Reliability 271

15 Quality Assurance 273

III Prior Knowledge 287

16 Unfamiliar Knowledge Domains 289

17 Naive Scientific Knowledge 311

IV Learning and Teaching 333

18 Developing Instruction 335

19 Designing the Learning Process: Goals 343

20 Designing the Learning Process: Means 357

21 Producing Instruction to Foster Learning 377

V Implementing Practical Instruction 401

22 Traditional Instructional Methods 403

23 Innovative Instructional Methods 417

24 Some Educational Challenges 439

References 451

Index 465