Describes a study conducted at two Australian secondary schools that investigated relationships between perceptions of the classroom learning environment, approaches to learning, and self concept as a learner. Examines gender and age differences, describes measurement techniques used, and considers results of statistical analyses. (Contains 59…

Illustrates the use of auto- and biographical materials as part of a research process concerned with problematic aspects of learning science. Draws on an extended study of graphing among university students and research scientists, and on the autobiography and interview data from one of the authors to point out some of the sources of difficulties…

Explains that a portfolio is a collection of student work that reflects the course content and is assembled by the student in a folder or binder over a specified period of time. Discusses how to use portfolios, the benefits of using portfolios as assessment tools, and potential concerns teachers need to address. (CMK)

Reviews recent research on student learning and motivation and applies conclusions to college instruction. Examines findings and instructional implications of the behaviorist model, the cognitive model, metacognition, learner-centered models, the unique learner, and motivation from a learning perspective. Concludes that the biggest variable in…

A model of expert tutors' knowledge of applied statistics was used to create a web-based computer coach that emulates human tutoring. Cognitive assessments are obtained from records of students' actions as, with the computer tutor's help, they learn to apply components of procedural knowledge required to solve problems. Learning is evaluated by…

Describes students' perceptions of a unique learning environment at a large Midwestern high school. Most students reported a positive experience and described the classroom as fun and exciting with real world relevance. However, findings also indicate that several students did not share these views and many students were not successful. (Contains…

Discusses preliminary research on a new heuristic tool for learning from laboratory activities in secondary science. Finds that use of the science writing heuristic facilitated students in generating meaning from data; making connections among procedures, data, evidence, and claims; and engaging in metacognition. (Contains 29 references.)…

Applies three distinct analyses to recorded and transcribed student conversations (n=240) about brine shrimps. The complementary analytic methods provide information on the content of pupils' conversations in terms of the observations made, the ways in which pupils make sense of their observations, and the ways in which students use conversation…

Considers the issues facing the evaluation of online teaching and learning in higher education, based on experiences in the United Kingdom. Topics include characteristics of distance learning; evaluating learning technology; formative evaluation; summative evaluation; illuminative evaluation; integrative evaluation; evaluation for quality…

Provides information on the geography program at Liverpool Hope University College (England). Discusses geography research at Liverpool Hope and outlines the Geography for the New Undergraduate program, considering its impact on teaching and learning. Addresses the evolving research agenda for teaching and learning. (CMK)

This research arose from our involvements in adults and community education, adult literacy, youth issues, and in researching the new movement in Australia for the inclusion of "generic skills" in education and training curriculum. We recruited twenty-two practitioners in Adult and Community Education (ACE) in a participatory action…

This paper is about a longitudinal study to investigate how student-teachers developed understanding of some key ecological concepts during a teacher education programme. Another aim was to interpret the student-teachers' intentions in respect of the programme and to examine how these intentions influenced their learning. A group of students were…

Although research from a developmental/psychological perspective indicates that many children do not have a scientific understanding of living things, even by the age of 10 years, little research has been conducted about how students learn this science topic in the classroom. This exploratory research used a case-study design and qualitative…

Traditional civil disobedience has usually combined deep spiritual beliefs with intense political ones. And while appreciating the differences in the two worlds--render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's--practitioners respected both. While sometimes willful and defiant and sometimes passive to the point of self-extinction, the…

A team of teachers, scientists, and high school students at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has developed activities to teach concepts in learning through an inquiry-based laboratory method. The Learning Education and Research Network (LEARN) activities were field tested at the Society for Neuroscience Conference, in the…