Contends that writing across the curriculum, including the visual arts, has become a major educational trend in the past decade. Argues that writing helps shape the processes of art criticism and appreciation. Includes suggestions for writing assignments and examples of student writing. (CFR)

Describes a class project to determine which environmental condition, such as light, heat, and type of basking substrate, would result in the least and most turtle basking behavior. (PR)

Describes how students in grades 2-8 can make beakers from quart-sized oil containers and calibrate them in milliliters. In an second activity, students estimate the volume of water in four jars and use their beakers to measure the water in each. The estimates are compared to the true measurements. (PR)

Describes a simulation of chemical reactions to help students understand factors that affect the rates of chemical reactions. (PR)

Presents an interdisciplinary instructional unit focusing on the Mayan Civilization. Describes the use of interactive story telling and guided imagery to heighten student interest and involvement. Provides suggestions for using these methods to teach about other countries or civilizations. (CFR)

Analyzes how staff at two inservice programs that helped elementary teachers develop constructivist teaching practices construed program subject matter, noting the role they assigned subject matter in helping educators learn to teach. The reformist pedagogy used a principled conception of subject matter. Developing teachers' subject matter…

At Arizona State University, English grammar classes were taught using elements of peer teaching and cooperative learning. Classes involved (1) student lectures explaining assigned readings; (2) daily quizzes; and (3) student grading of exams and quizzes. Positive aspects included student acceptance and attainment of a high level of mastery.…

Observes that students in introductory and intermediate economics courses often have difficulty understanding concepts of trade and budget deficits. Presents a graphical technique to be used as a framework for teaching these concepts in the classroom. Claims that this technique is effective in other comparative statistics exercises. (NL)

The Patient-Oriented Problem-Solving System, a cooperative learning model, was implemented in a second year immunology course at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry, to correlate basic and clinical sciences information about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Student enthusiasm and learning were substantial. (MSE)

Examines the impact of friendship on the process and outcome of peer-tutoring in a study involving 90 Welsh 8- to 9-year-old children. Finds peer-tutors have difficulty coordinating the demands of tutoring tasks because of their limited cognitive resources. Also finds friendship imposes greater burdens on children's limited resources. (NL)

Discusses the value of writing assignments in mathematics instruction. Advocates informal, lengthy, nongraded writing as the best form of learning. Encourages the use of a learning log by students which is reviewed by both teachers and fellow students. Provides examples of short in-class mathematics writing assignments. (PAA)

Describes a self-paced reading method of instruction used to teach the introduction to cultural anthropology course at Kansas State University. Assigned problems stimulate integration of ethnographic data with concepts. Discusses advantages and disadvantages of this approach based on student course evaluations. (JS)

Describes an honors introductory cultural anthropology course taught at California State University, Chico. Discusses the course design, how course information is made relevant and reinforced, and how students have partial responsibility for the course design. Discusses the use of science fiction books to make material relevant to students. (JS)

Describes a project where children follow the natural progression of becoming literate in their native language (Spanish) before developing literacy in the language of the school. Demonstrates the manner in which social interaction is part of literacy acquisition at the early stages. (MG)

The use of calculators in helping students to construct their own learning is discussed. Two games which illustrate this concept are presented. The features of a constructivist lesson which uses calculators are listed. (CW)