Programs involving research experiences for undergraduates (REUs) typically reflect either university-sponsored programs or programs funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that aim to facilitate students' research-based skill development. Despite the prevalence of research supporting the effectiveness of these programs, little research…

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive study was to determine if participation in project-based learning developed the understanding students need to transfer their knowledge and skills to achieve higher composite and reading scores, as well as demonstrate the ability to read increasingly complex texts on the ACT Aspire as…

In 2006, small blocks of flexible curriculum time, termed selectives, were implemented in the Mayo Medical School preclinical curriculum. Selectives permitted students to pursue professional endeavors, such as research, service, and career exploration, in the preclinical years. The purpose of this study was to survey current and former Mayo…

Problem Statement: University students usually lack the skills to rigorously define a multi-dimensional real-life problem and its limitations in an explicit, clear and testable way, which prevents them from forming a reliable method, obtaining relevant results and making balanced judgments to solve a problem. Purpose of the Study: The study…

Introductory statistics needs innovative, evidence-based teaching practices that support and engage diverse students. To evaluate the success of a multidisciplinary, project-based course, we compared experiences of under-represented (URM) and non-underrepresented students in 4 years of the course. While URM students considered the material more…

The excitement was palpable as the day had finally come -- Research Day! Introduction to Psychology students in a community college who were earning vocational and transfer degrees had become fledging researchers, exuberant to share their knowledge with peers, instructors, their families and community members. Students presented their research…

Discusses strategies that teachers and school librarians can use for building student understanding of content and the research process. Topics include the interdependence of information skills; being aware of students' prior knowledge and experience; comparing data; and building the research process with information processing skills. (LRW)

Compares teaching of engineers with teaching of policy analysts. Emphasizes similarities. Presents briefing format to be used in teaching students basics of policy analysis. Includes briefing instructions, selecting an issue, writing a proposal and briefing paper, and preparing the oral briefing. Suggests methods of evaluating students' efforts,…

Compares the role of undergraduate research (UR) in European and American chemical engineering programs based on the average student at the National Technical University of Athens. Includes relative position of UR in a European curriculum; benefits of UR for students and faculty; and social, cultural, and academic factors influencing UR. (SK)

Reports results of a qualitative study that examined what a group of fifth graders thought about using the "Research Buddy," a World Wide Web site designed to help them do a research project. Findings center on the comparison of student perceptions with observed student behavior. The data collection instruments are appended. (MES)

Discusses a survey of 56 advanced placement (AP) U.S. history teachers. Explores the scope of AP history and types of posttest activities used after Advanced Placement examinations. Concludes that public school courses developed more deeply into post-1960 events than the private schools did. Describes movies, debates, simulations, and local…

Two naturalistic research studies observed 45 eleventh grade students carrying out research paper assignments, and a third such study focused on 26 third grade students. The studies took place in Alberta (Canada) in 1993, Texas in 1996, and Washington state in 1999. From data analyzed in the interviews and written documents, the initial findings…