This article speaks on a critical component of independent learning is to cultivate the habit of self-study, which is an effective way of improving students' grades, material understanding, class participation, and confidence. Self-study also enables students to be independent learners, which not only hones their critical and reasoning skills but…

The Peer Assessment Collaboration Evaluation (PACE) Tool is an original peer assessment tool designed and developed by the authors to address the prevalence of social loafing in group projects in online learning environments. Online group projects offer students collaborative opportunities to engage in critical thinking and problem-solving.…

In this article, two instructional practices, "Numbered Heads Together" (NHT) and "Carousel Brainstorming" (CB), are discussed to guide instructors through the intentional practice of incorporating flexible groupings (CEC, HLP 17) in their daily instruction for the purpose of creating Culturally Relevant PK-12 Learning…

In recent years, student behavioral issues have become a growing concern. Physical education (PE) provides ample meaningful opportunities to foster personal and social development. Among all the instructional models in PE, Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) stands out as the most suitable model to facilitate the development of…

While the development of creativity, or creative thinking, in mathematics is considered important by many researchers, there are several difficulties in implementing creative tasks, especially before secondary school. Within the original context of a mathematical escape game, this paper reports two episodes exemplifying the difficulties met by…

How can teachers encourage productive struggle in mathematics and yet minimize the exposure to shame often associated with struggle? In this article, the authors offer constructive ways to position struggle in the classroom to minimize shame and promote doers of mathematics.

The purpose of this paper is to review two highly motivational instructional models and provide detailed explanation and discussion of their positive ramifications on students. Moreover, we aim to provide encouragement, examples, and conversations about how to increase model implementation. Professional development, teacher education programs, and…

The term 'engagement' is much researched but tricky to define in the field of educational technology and online learning. In this short paper I will offer three perspectives on what 'engagement' means in online learning environments and provide some advice to educators on how student engagement in online learning might be promoted. The…

Nowadays, the virtual learning environment has become an ideal tool for professional self-development and bringing courses for various learner audiences across the world. There is currently an increasing interest in researching the topic of learner dropout and low completion in distance learning, with one of the main concerns being elevated rates…

When do we know that we are part of a swarm? What might a swarm look and feel like in an art classroom? These were a couple of the questions that began two art educators' inquiry into ways swarm intelligence operates in a learning environment that might "reinforce and strengthen your most creative thinking with a positive feedback loop"…

Quiet students are sometimes misunderstood in the college classroom. Students may be quiet for reasons related to personality traits, learned behaviors, or situational factors, but regardless, their silences may be misinterpreted by their instructors as a lack of engagement in their courses. In fact, quiet students are often very engaged in the…

Students are naturally curious and inquisitive with powerful intrinsic motives to probe, learn, and understand their world. Accordingly, class activities must capitalize on this inherently energetic and curious nature so that learning becomes a lifelong activity where students take initiative for learning, are skilled in learning, and want to…

The beginning of the school year is filled with promise, hopes and dreams, and new initiatives. School psychologists will inevitably set goals, both for themselves and for their students. Goals may be personal or professional in nature and they require a certain amount of planning and time dedication in order to lead to success. This is an ideal…

This article reviews a classroom application titled "The Quest for Kudos Challenge," which is a long-term, multitask, large group competition to attain a reward that was designed to adhere to the recommendations for creating a cooperative learning experience while maintaining the elements of a constructive competition. The application…

Against the menacing shadow of neoliberalism, which promotes individualism and competition, the author illustrates in this paper the need for group teaching. Group teaching as a method of instruction and learning fosters community bonds, solidarity, and is more effective teaching. Group teaching is a democratic tool necessary for society to…