This article presents a "child-centered" model of the teaching-learning process--the challenge kindergarten model. The model is an attempt to deal with the limitations of the "child-centered" approach without giving up its benefits. In this model, the teachers enable the children to direct their activities and improve their…

This study investigates differences between collaboration methods in two summer enrichment classes for students entering the sixth grade. In one treatment, students used pair programming. In the other treatment, students engaged in frequent collaboration, but worked on their own computer. Students in the two treatments did not differ significantly…

This book describes a comprehensive strategy for getting to know students learning behaviors and includes everything from theoretical constructs to projects for classroom use. Glosses direct the reader to further information on subjects discussed in the book: cognitive science, brain science, learning styles, multiple intelligences, and…

This paper outlines assumptions and principles related to computer mediated learning (CML) and suggests instructional design and classroom strategies for CML planning and practice. The pedagogy of control is contrasted with the pedagogy of choice and the latter constructivist viewpoint is recommended as the basis of CML. Assumptions about learning…

Reviews efforts to develop and use computer support for situated, collaborative learning. Presents lessons learned in pilot experiments designed to examine how to integrate two types of group collaboration tools: constructivist and/or minimal instructionist. Students appeared to favor the integration of instructionism into constructivist…

Describes the Workshop Chemistry project, a coalition of faculty, students, and learning specialists, and the development of a peer-led team-learning model for teaching and learning chemistry. The model includes freedom to discuss and debate chemistry in a challenging yet supportive environment, connection to mentors, and the power of working as…

This paper clarifies the differences between collaborative and cooperative learning by presenting the author's definitions of the two terms, reviewing those of other authors who have helped clarify his thinking, and presenting and analyzing the educational benefits of collaborative/cooperative learning techniques. It states that collaborative…

Examines ongoing shifts in education/learning related to technological change and students' growing technological literacy. Discusses shifts toward hypermedia learning, constructivism and discovery, learner-centered education, navigation of information sources and information synthesis, lifelong learning, customized learning, learning as fun, and…

A cooperative activity involving eight sixth grade students over five days focused on inventing static representations of motion. In generating, critiquing and refining numerous representations, strong metarepresentational competence was found. An intricate blend of the children's conceptual and interactional skills, their interest in and sense of…

This article reviews six models of literacy strategy instruction in special and remedial education and reports on a study which manipulated teacher and student control of activity, as well as the instructional context, in examining the implementation and outcomes of three models: direct instruction; reciprocal teaching; and collaborative problem…

This paper presentes a case study of an innovative class at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) in an English for Academic purposes context in which spontaneous topics raised by the learners took the place of a pre-planned syllabus. The target students were late-matriculating research students and those with particularly weak spoken English.…

The focus of this practitioner brief is: What happens when students identify the skill areas they feel need the most work and then are given class time, resources, and strategies to work in these areas? This learning strategy was tried by one teacher of adult English as a Second Language (ESL) because the students in his class were either too far…

Efforts by community colleges to become more learning-centered reflect the reforms taking place in traditional higher education. In addition to making learning the highest priority, American education must continue to overhaul its outdated, traditional framework restricted by time, place, bureaucracy, and limited teacher roles. The ideal model of…

Trends in pedagogy and in technology are converging to make distance learning environments of the 21st century. Trends in pedagogy have encouraged the movement away from the learner as a passive recipient of information and toward a more active model of learning. Earlier generations of distance learning media and methods were ill-suited to the…