The purpose of this book is to introduce educators to research on strategies for developing students' cognitive knowledge. A number of strategies and theories are presented which demonstrate how students learn in various domains and situations.

The book is organized into three sections: Domain-Specific Applications, Across-the-Curriculum Applications, and Classrooms as Learning Communities. The first section deals with studies contrasting expert and novice performance. Students' prior knowledge helps them connect to a specific domain. One study enhanced reports enhanced student performance through the use of hypermedia to organize information, allowing connections between various types of information. Students learned how to organize information and use it for future reference.

The section on Across-the-Curriculum Applications presents theories on intelligence. The theories are based upon a general approach to cognition and thinking rather than domain-specific approaches. Various types of intelligence can be identified, based upon how students gather and process knowledge. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences focus on specific learning abilities, such as logical learning or spacial learning. A related problem area is teaching students how to manage their learning, particularly in the content of reading. This section presents a number of strategies and programs for teachers to consider.

The third section, Classrooms as Learning Communities, is concerned with adapting the curriculum to actual situations. One group of teachers made algebra problems more meaningful by producing a video that enabled the teachers and the students to work on factual problems that could be viewed, discussed, and problem solved. This was accomplished by bringing together teachers, professionals in the community, and parents. Jointly, these people made learning enjoyable as well as applicable for the students by developing programs that enriched the curriculum.

As teachers, we have a responsibility to keep up with relevant research on ways to facilitate student learning. This book is a useful reference tool to discover ways to reach the diverse learners that we encounter each school year. We are benefitting ourselves and our students when we learn how students think, process, store, and apply their information. This book delves into so many different areas that it is easy to envision using the theories and strategies in a classroom setting.