Disciplines such as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which involve concepts not included in the high-school curriculum, are very challenging for many first year university students. These subjects are particularly difficult for students accustomed to surface learning strategies involving memorization and recall of facts, as a deeper…

Ten years ago, Salman Khan, with three degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard, agreed to help tutor his cousin Nadia, who was struggling in math. Using Yahoo's Doodle notepad, Khan offered Nadia a sequence of mini lessons designed to scaffold her learning. Over time, other friends and relatives heard about Khan's success and asked for similar…

Massification in higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa is an ongoing reality that poses particular challenges and opportunities for these nations (Mohamedbhai, 2008). Like Scott (1995), we use the term massification to refer to the rapid increase of students attending higher education institutions in the latter part of the 20th century and into…

This article reports that as the need for students to be able to construct and critique scientific argumentation as emphasized in "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" (National Research Council 2012), teachers are wondering how to support students in this process. Scientific argumentation is defined as the interplay between…

Many think of intervention strategies in terms of literacy or mathematics, but the author believes such strategies are just as important in teaching science, particularly for those with English as an additional language (EAL). With the recent focus in England on inclusion, achievement for all, and the Government's personalisation agenda, it is…

This paper discusses the implementation of a new e-learning environment that supports non-rote learning of exploratory and inductive statistics within the pedagogical paradigm of social constructivism. The e-learning system is based on a new computational framework that allows us to create an electronic research environment where students are…

This paper describes an exploration of an inquiry-based learning approach undertaken with a group of first-year students in a large undergraduate class. An innovative technology support was used to manage the process and an exploration was undertaken to determine students' responses to learning based on problem-solving activities. The study…

Describes simulation software that was used with an LCD overhead display and laptop computers for large introductory psychology courses. The use of experiment simulators to increase student interest and activity is discussed, hardware is explained, and interaction between students, instructor, and the simulation is described. (14 references) (LRW)

Discusses instructional considerations of group size for computerized instruction. Situations calling for individual use, small group use, and large use of computers are described; individualistic, competitive, and cooperative learning are explained; peer tutoring versus teacher guidance is examined; and courseware selection is discussed. (eight…

Describes the development and use of electronic classrooms at the University of Maryland College Park. Highlights include active individual learning; small group collaborative learning; class collaborative learning; classroom infrastructure; audio-visual support; courseware; empirical assessments; results of faculty surveys; and student feedback.…

Describes software that is effective in helping high school students learn mathematics. Discusses how to focus lessons, including graphics, for whole-group instruction; and have student practice skills with partners and explore ideas individually or with partners. (LRW)

Presents techniques to use in stimulating interest and effective learning outcomes in large classes, based on experiences at California State University, Los Angeles. Topics include active learning; collaborative learning; interactive learning; and use of the Web for student motivation and engaging in in-class discussions. (Author/LRW)

Prescribes the use and grading of student-created assessment portfolios for a large-enrollment, introductory-level environmental science course. Grading involves a modified holistic-scoring technique that evaluates student-provided evidence of academic achievement from extended, authentic tasks. Portfolio use emphasizes the integration of facts…

A large-enrollment, undergraduate cellular biology lecture course is described whose primary goal is to help students acquire skill in the interpretation of experimental data. The premise is that this kind of analytical reasoning is not intuitive for most people and, in the absence of hands-on laboratory experience, will not readily develop unless…