In higher education, educators establish complex learning outcomes for students to achieve during their collegiate studies. These outcomes, given their complexity, necessitate an advanced approach to studying the teaching and learning process as it unfolds in real time. We brought together extant literature and our own research experience studying…

This timely and accessible text introduces, theorises and practically applies two important concepts which now underpin early years practice: those of "playful learning" and "playful pedagogies". Pat Broadhead and Andy Burt draw upon filmed material, conversations with children, reflection, observation, and parental and staff interviews, in their…

The discussion of learning and teaching in this paper is based on data from a research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) programme. The research project is investigating the experiences of learning and working in further education colleges in Wales and the data used in…

Critically examines the "English ethnographic tradition's" view that classroom instruction transmits propositional knowledge. Uses observed classroom discourse to argue that instruction in fact produces knowledge, both propositional and "how-to". (MCG)

The study investigates differences in learning styles as measured by the Learning Style Inventory (LSI), an instrument designed to identify sociological, emotional, environmental, and physiological factors that form an individual's learning style. The subjects for the study were a sample of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders in a midwestern…

Discusses the use of simultaneous recitation as an instructional strategy in Baltimore's (Maryland) primary schools during the early part of the 19th century. Describes the classroom environment and attempts to use student monitors to make the simultaneous recitation approach more effective. (CFR)

A discussion of research on naturalistic second language acquisition (SLA) focuses on its relationship to the foreign language classroom context. It is argued that to attempt to relate natural SLA to classroom foreign language learning (FLL), a coherent and consistent theoretical framework is needed. The Cognitive-Interactionist Model is developed…

This paper reports on two studies, one quantitative and the other qualitative, on the effectiveness and influence of Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) at the University of Washington. A quantitative panel study compared 442 freshmen participating in 21 FIGs with 1818 non-participating freshmen. Findings indicated that the FIG program provided a…

In this chapter, the authors aim to review recent, sociocultural studies of classroom-based research in science education in light of a sample of practice-based research within the field of science studies. They provide a framework for examining the discipline of science that can also be useful for assessing its impact on students. The framework…

Learning environment that facilitated the acquisition and expression of procedural skills in LOGO was set up for children in the 10- to 12-year range. Ten participants were placed in a series of situations that required them to manipulate programing procedures in LOGO. Analysis of children's behavior revealed their competence in manipulating…

A perspective about sex differences in relation to learning about computers which emphasizes the need to consider the context of societal beliefs and conditions is presented, as well as an analysis of the ways in which technology is viewed that have implications for how it is incorporated into educational settings. It is argued that, in addition…

Discovered that the introduction of piano keyboarding into elementary school music instruction produced a positive effect regarding children's sentiment towards school. No discernible effect was revealed concerning memory skills. Includes statistical data and description of survey questionnaires. (MJP)

A discussion of the relationship between second language acquisition (SLA) and foreign language learning (FLL) focuses on how theory influences language teaching. It is noted that SLA research has brought new interest in teaching materials and methodologies to many in the foreign language profession, but that there are also many who, impatient…

Data were gathered, using pre and posttests and interviews, on the learning of individual students during a seven-week unit on a science topic (conservation) in a fourth grade classroom. Case studies of the learning experiences of each child, based on recordings and detailed observations of all class activities, were used to predict student…

Describes the structure and philosophy of the National History Curriculum in England, which went into effect in September 1991. Argues that its mechanistic approach and assessment program has little to do with realities of the classroom or students' historical understanding. Presents an alternative method for assessing students' historical…