On Fridays, rather than changing classes, the students at one middle school spend all four team periods with one teacher/adviser as they pursue intensive, independent quarterly learning projects in either science, math, social studies, or English. A program evaluation showed improved student engagement, independent learning, thinking skills, and…

Gifted elementary students need exposure to advanced concepts and materials without being segregated from classmates. Educators should avoid labeling students as gifted; assign independent projects, real-world problems, and high-quality literature; promote guided exploration and self-discovery; consider alternative settings; and find suitable…

The "ISSS Annual Conference Proceedings" is a peer-reviewed professional publication published once a year following the annual conference. (Individual papers contain references.) [For the 2011 proceedings, see ED518589.]

A Virginia science and technology high school restructured its ninth-grade curriculum by clustering three core courses in an integrated program. Students work with resource managers at Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge to gather data on species inhabiting the area. They prepare well-researched reports and present them to peers, faculty, and…

Presents several strategies used by teachers committed to providing varied teaching and learning approaches in the middle school; strategies include learning inventories; question posing by young adolescents; projects; and interactive and reflective learning by students. Also discusses the need for professional development for teachers who are…

Describes the group dynamics, science discovery processes, and activities involved in building a raft at camp. The project used recycled products and required group cooperation; critical thinking about density, buoyancy, and balance; use of familiar resources in creative ways; and application of previously learned facts. (SAS)

In this paper, we discuss the role of the educator in terms of designing a learning environment for the student which encourages the student to develop their own academic integrity. In such an environment, there is no need for the student to resort to plagiarism, as the learning and assessment tasks are not conducive to cheating, being unique and…

A unit of study that introduces collecting, representing, describing, and interpreting data is presented. Suitable for students in grades 4 through 6, it provides a foundation for further work in statistics and data analysis. The investigations may extend from one to four class sessions and are grouped into three parts: "Introduction to Data…

Rich educational environments encourage students to construct their own knowledge, to solve problems collaboratively, and to heighten their interest and motivation to continue to learn. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study that investigated the formation of collaborative problem solving through social interaction during a…

A project in which students designed environmentally responsible food packaging is described. The problem definition; research on topics such as waste paper, plastic, metal, glass, incineration, recycling, and consumer preferences; and the presentation design are provided. (KR)

High school mathematics project in which students interviewed guest speakers about the mathematics used in their jobs. Students wrote five real world problems based on the mathematics used by the person interviewed. The class worked through the problems and found that estimation was often a helpful strategy. (PDD)

Academic institutions have come to recognize the value of involving business students in solving real business problems, but most lack a way to systematically and reliably bring the needs of the business community and the resources of the academic community together. Responding to this need, a Web site was developed to promote linking students…

Students often approach research assignments with no real idea of how to proceed, even after having been taught the basic library/information skills and strategies. This book gives students the skills and conceptual framework to help them become successful, independent problem-solvers. The publication defines the four basic steps in tackling a…

This document offers science teachers a reference for various student projects that are intended to increase student interest in engineering, science, and technology. The book contains information, guidelines, and specific ideas for: (1) engineering design competitions; (2) engineering problem solving competitions; and (3) short-term…

Educationally successful electronic network activities involving microcomputers and long-distance networks include a student newswire, joint social science projects, and joint science projects. A newswire activity, such as "The Computer Chronicles," can provide a wide range of audiences for writing, a functional environment for reading, and a…