Researching mathematicians is a way for students to gain an understanding of mathematical concepts applied in class. This article outlines an eight-day collaborative project in which librarians and math teachers guide eighth graders in researching and creating multimedia presentations on mathematicians. Lists selected Web resources, including one…

Describes how a seventh-grade class created and presented their own museum as a special research project for an ancient cultures unit. Discusses how the class used drama strategies to frame issues and discussions, and used "processed drama" and "mantle of the expert drama" in extended ways to frame two months of inquiry and a…

Illustrates that history can be brought to life and internalized in an authentic fashion in a variety of situations. Demonstrates the step-by-step process by which teacher and class can formulate, prepare, plan, research, rehearse, and present role-playing simulations for class, school, and community. Includes a student persona worksheet.…

Describes an eighth-grade science class in a school primarily of Chinese immigrant students of many languages and levels of education, where what matters most are learning English; developing community; and starting from the students' experiences, questions, and troubles. Argues that real learning happens as students feel accountable for asking…

Describes the Notable American Project, which focuses on the First Ladies and other notable people in the United States for students in grades 8-12. Explains that students select their subjects and then write biographical research papers, create historical posters, and present first-person speeches in costumes. Offers handouts. (CMK)

Discusses how to build customized World Wide Web documents; uses examples from an Advanced Composition class at Lakeville High School (Minnesota). Highlights four steps: (1) assessing student needs; (2) developing instructional goals and activities; (3) deciding on content; and (4) organizing and arranging the information into Web pages. (AEF)

Provides suggestions for combining electronic books with traditional printed materials in a school literacy program. Discusses introducing the printed version of the story to students, having students read this version to others, and encouraging student-produced CD-ROM presentations. A sidebar presents a list of electronic book publishers. (AEF)

Discusses student video production as an approach to learner-centered instruction. Highlights include educational principles and skills development; a comparison of two video production courses; and solutions to the problems of how much freedom to give students, how much tutor instruction to provide, whether to have individual or group…

Describes how to approach block scheduling of science classes. Discusses the planning process, specific activities that work well in longer science classes, and techniques for motivating students. (DDR)

Reports the reactions and attitudes of students to taking a computer-based course through two questionnaires. Data from the study are analyzed in detail, and the attitudes and reactions of the students are linked to features of the computer-based learning (CBL) material and its use, and to possible more general attitudes of the students.…

Describes a collaborative project that allows students to explore the role of culture in child development and education through an in-depth study of mathematics education in the United States and Asia. Reports that the assignment is effective in helping students to understand cultural influences and the ecological model of child development. (DSK)

Explores learning strategies for using the Internet in social studies instruction. Provides an annotated list of websites that help teachers with methods and ideas for assignments. Offers contact information for teachers who want to submit web-based lesson plans. (CMK)

Describes a thematic, interdisciplinary unit for seventh grade that unites social studies and art. Focuses on the history of Native American art in Arizona, especially Navajo weaving. Discusses the weaving project. (CMK)

Describes the planning and design process of "Off the Wall," a student-developed CD-ROM multimedia project about the life and work of artist Chuck Close-the product of a studio-based course in Learning Experiments Design at the University of Georgia. The design includes an element of gaming; text is kept sparse; navigational elements are rendered…

Evaluated a peer assessment procedure to factor in the contributions of individual group members engaged in an integrated group project. Findings demonstrated that the method resulted in a substantially wider spread of marks being given to individual students; about one-third received a grade different from the grade the project as a whole would…