Historically, music programs in K-12 schools have emphasized performance opportunities for children and young people. Until the release of the 1994 National Standards in Music, targeted instruction in composition was frequently overlooked due to the emphasis on performance as well as the expectations of what a school music program ought to produce…

Computers and multimedia instruction have significantly changed the face of education and have greatly enhanced the learning process. The use of creative technological teaching strategies offers an effective, meaningful way of instruction delivery. In this article, the author examines several creative multimedia instructional approaches used in…

This paper analyses the experience of a teacher and her Year 6 class (10-11 year-olds) over a school year, while participating in a pilot project introducing Personal Digital Assistants as a learning tool. The intervention was initiated and supported by the local City Learning Centre, which was concerned with how best to use technologies for…

The interact simulation environment has the potential to overcome problems associated with simulations by improving the lack of cost effectiveness, providing online guidance to students, and tailoring the supporting material to suit a wide range of contexts. Results show a flexible teaching and learning environment allows for teacher creativity.…

Students of all ages can apply what they have learned about symmetry by creating quilts on the computer using LOGO. The paper explains how to complete a computer quilting project. (SM)

Having students create personalized stationery is a good way to promote student writing. Children of all ages can design computer-generated stationery in just a few steps using predrawn or original graphics and a variety of typefaces. The article describes three programs that enable students to create stationery. (SM)

Children love writing and receiving personal messages. By setting up a mystery pen pal network in the classroom, elementary teachers can get students excited about writing. The article explains how to set up such a network using a computer and a word processing program. (SM)

Elementary and secondary school teachers explain how they get the most out of their computer labs. Ideas including conferencing with the school's computer teacher, developing a new system for disks, planning a practice project to reinforce basic skills, setting up computer competency training, and supporting the curriculum. (SM)

A Chapter 1 school motivated students using technology and the arts. A partnership with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts helped students develop cognitive and creative skills while working in concrete ways. Using computers, each class chose an artist, developed a class museum, and exhibited at the student-staffed museum. (SM)

Describes how technology helped one elementary teacher meet the needs and celebrate the strengths of all his students in a mixed-ability-grouped, student-centered classroom. Technology allowed the children many more choices for different kinds of learning and helped them develop their individual strengths. (SM)

Three elementary level publishing projects encourage students' writing skills. The first involves painting a poetry quilt. The second has students create stories through collage using the Image-Making within the Writing Process program. The third involves creating oral histories of older people and using computer software to conduct research. (SM)

Describes three computer spelling programs that take the emphasis off memorization and instead provide innovative ideas for helping students remember their spelling words. One program organizes spelling words starting with the most frequently used words. The second provides multiple levels of instruction simultaneously. The third uses…

This paper recommends edutainment to engage students' senses and get them involved by presenting lessons in a way that makes education interesting and entertaining. Suggestions for creative edutainment include using exciting computer software, joining the Internet, hooking up to cable television, and providing a variety of magazines. (SM)

Students can explore temperature and heat conductivity by examining materials that make good cups for hot cocoa. Using temperature probes from computer-based science packages, students can measure gradual change in the liquid's temperature, watch as data are plotted on the computer, and explain why they chose a specific material. (SM)

Elementary level math activity helps students learn averages, percentages, and mathematical predictions using candies and a computer spreadsheet. Students estimate, collect data, and compare actual counts against their predictions. (SM)