Describes a college geometry course centered around challenging, open-ended problems that invite students to draw upon their experiences and share their understandings. Includes discussion of sample problems; writing assignments; classroom dialog; student comments and insights about geometry, mathematics, and themselves and mathematics; and…

Presented are guidelines for designing and incorporating cooperative group learning strategies into teacher preparation courses. Guidelines include determining appropriate content, selecting a cooperative format, forming cooperative groups, teaching cooperative skills, providing feedback, and evaluating learning. The student satisfaction results…

Describes how to create good physics programs in small colleges. (PR)

Described are two experiments which demonstrate meteorological phenomena in the geography classroom. Required materials, preparation, and instructional techniques to be used during the demonstrations are discussed. (Author/DB)

Describes a novel modeling and simulation package and assesses its impact on students' understanding of chemistry. Connected Chemistry was implemented inside the NetLogo modeling environment. Using Connected Chemistry, students employed problem -solving techniques characterized by stronger attempts at conceptual understanding and logical…

This report discusses the Pennsylvania State University Instruction Support System (ISS) designed to meet the needs of large classes for competency-based teacher education (CBTE) programs. The ISS seven-step hierarchical developmental procedure is reported to free the instructor for specialized instruction and evaluation by utilizing a…

Describes a project to improve the science curricula and the science teaching skills of instructors in Houston-area two-year colleges in such a way that the program can be replicated in other locations. Two-year college faculty members were teamed with faculty from universities. (PR)

Presents an interdisciplinary approach to introductory biology using a learning community model that addresses many of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) and Sigma Xi's objectives in the teaching of introductory science courses. (PR)

Explains the importance of introductory science courses and presents characteristics of exemplary courses. (PR)

This instructor's guide provides a description of the Johns Hopkins Substance Abuse Curriculum, detailed educational models and other aids for conducting substance abuse teaching activities. The guide is in six sections with Section 1 as a brief introduction and list of 20 references. Section 2 sketches the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Substance Abuse…

Discussed are similarities between college courses described as exemplary by the Society of College Science Teachers. Various strategies used to teach problem solving based on a three-stage model are highlighted. The process of identification of exemplary programs is discussed. (CW)

This report describes the first year of an ongoing intervention study and the learning of a group of teachers who are working together to make changes in the ways they teach mathematics. The document presents a vision of mathematics education based on research in cognitive psychology which indicates that learners construct knowledge rather than…

This report describes a three-part effort by the Florida Postsecondary Education Planning Commission to identify some of the current outstanding efforts to improve science and mathematics at the postsecondary level and to explore ideas on how these positive practices can be expanded. Site visits to three selected postsecondary institutions…

Schoolwide literacy--the teaching of reading, writing, speaking, and thinking practices in all content areas--is generally considered an effective, even necessary, approach to addressing the learning needs of adolescents. In early college high schools, which blend high school and college for students who are underserved in higher education, the…

Issues related to the improvement of mathematics and science education pertain to Native students as well as to the general population. Native students are most successful at tasks that use visual and spatial abilities and that involve simultaneous processing. Instruction should build on Native students' strengths. Experiential learning and…