Capturing and measuring instructional patterns by using standardized observation manuals has become increasingly popular in classroom research. While researchers argue that a common vocabulary of teaching is necessary for the field of classroom research to move forward, instructional features vary across classrooms and contexts, which poses…

Mercer University School of Medicine utilizes a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum for educating medical students in the basic clinical sciences. In 2014, an adjustment was piloted that enabled PBL cases to align with their corresponding cadaver dissection that reviewed the content of anatomy contained in the PBL cases. Faculty had the option…

The use of video games as an educational tool initially causes a higher degree of motivation in students. However, the inclusion of educational activities throughout the game can cause this initial interest to be lost. A good way to maintain motivation is to use a good story that is used as guiding thread with which to contextualize the other…

Fractions are an essential foundational skill for future mathematics success (NMAP, 2008). The purpose of this article was to review current instructional practices for teaching fractions to struggling learners and to examine the quality and effectiveness of contemporary research with a view to indicating directions for future research. A…

The "Wilson Reading System"[R] is a reading and writing program developed by Barbara Wilson and distributed by Wilson Language Training. It provides a curriculum for teaching reading and spelling to individuals of any age who have difficulty with written language. The program directly teaches the structure of words in the English…

Measurement is an integral component of the PK-12 mathematics curriculum. At various grade levels, much attention is given to the areas of geometric shapes. However, there is research evidence that measurement is problematic for US students. In this paper, the merits and demerits of two possible sequences (conventional and alternative) in teaching…

Planning engaging and effective lessons for middle and high school learners is one of the fundamental components of successful secondary teaching (Skowron 2001; Butt, 2006). While Wiggins & McTighe (1998) have set forth a framework for "backwards planning" in unit design, this article provides a framework for employing backwards planning in…

Project-based learning (PBL) is described as a student-centered approach to learning in which students collaborate on sequential authentic tasks and develop a final project. Through opportunities to integrate both language and content learning, PBL practitioners suggest that meaningful language use and purposeful communication are fostered…

This paper examines how Team Learning allows students to express themselves through their work. I define expression to include taking ownership of one's work, i.e. working through self-motivation rather than through the dictates of a teacher, and participating in a community of workers. This participation includes working with colleagues on…

The study with 34 gifted fifth-grade students found that a concrete sequential approach to developing visual literacy was more effective than an abstract visualization approach. Subjects either received guided visualization or direct instruction on such art concepts as shape, form, line, color, perspective, variety, and unity. (DB)

Compared the effects of constructivist instruction and instruction based on texts and demonstration on third-graders' conceptualization of force. Found that constructivist instruction was more effective. Patterns of reasoning related to force were identified in levels of conceptualization. (JPB)

Ninety-one hearing-impaired students entering Gallaudet University received systematic cognitive instruction focusing on specific generalizable skills, in the contexts of their regular college classes. The students were given practice in skills of organization, comparisons, analysis, classification, following instructions, temporal relationships,…

Given the frequency with which the "system of least prompts" is used, it is important to identify procedures to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. This study compared effects of a traditional least to most procedure (TLM) and a revised least to most procedure (RLM) on skill acquisition in individuals with moderate and severe…