Individual interviews of second grade students revealed five qualitatively different concepts of the earth. Audiotutorial lessons used in this study did not result in significant advances in children's concept of the earth. (MLH)

Suggests two means of humanizing objectives and examines the cognitive and affective responses of students to behavioral objectives for a unit of instruction in a basic speech communication course. (MH)

Discusses the results of the administration of the SLOPE test, a measure of oral production, to 66 adult speakers of English as a second language. (Author/RM)

One of the great challenges in higher education is to help students integrate their learning. The capacity to make connections is essential to the conduct of personal, professional, and civic life, and is at the very heart of liberal education. It is also, arguably, more important than ever, and more difficult to achieve, as students transfer…

The starting point for this review of literature on theories of learning and adults with learning difficulties is the FEFC's 1996 landmark report, "Inclusive Learning" (also known as the Tomlinson Report). This report made learning its central focus, arguing that unless we understand how students learn we cannot begin to make the right…

In the attempt to account for striking differences between learning activities of immigrant mathematics students from the former Soviet Union and of their native Israeli classmates, the authors introduce the notions of "actual" and "designated identities." These identities are subsequently presented as important factors that…

This paper presents an overview of the theory of situated cognition by providing its origin, a listing of its main principles and then discussing in detail the principles of, authentic learning environments, legitimate peripheral participation, and assessment. It also provides two examples of the application of situated cognition principles. The…

Research and various studies have showed that using multimedia in the classroom increases creativity, innovation problem solving and improves communication between people. Technology addresses equity and access issues for learners. Technology allows educators to refine teaching strategies and learning processes, and to be more inclusive of all…

This report describes how to implement Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences (MI) into Israel's Tanakh classrooms and includes samples of implemented materials. It also notes goals and obstacles encountered during this process and how they were overcome. To illustrate this process, the report provides an overview of Tanakh-centered activities…

The increasing role of computer technology in the classroom has left many teachers searching for resources that will make sense of complex theories and provide them with practical pedagogical direction. Offering instructional stories, histories, and classroom applications, this book connects the theoretical aspirations of the field with the craft…

Experiential learning, or learning by doing, fits newer conceptions about the process of learning. John Dewey's emphasis on experience as the key to real learning, Paulo Freire's criticism of the "banking concept" of education, and David Kolb's description of the cycle of experiential learning have changed the conception of learning.…

Multiple-choice tests such as the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) provide useful instruments to probe the distribution of student difficulties on a large scale. However, traditional analysis often relies solely on scores (number of students giving the correct answer). This ignores what can be significant and important information: the distribution…

The feature article of this newsletter issue describes a course designed for the professional development of math teachers that uses inquiry-based classroom learning and presents articles on inquiry-based science and mathematics teaching. Other articles include: (1) "An Inquiry-Based Mathematics Classroom" (Lesley Lee); (2)…

In this book, 11 teachers, from first through twelfth grades, take readers into their classrooms where students are assembling collections of their work. In honest, down-to-earth accounts in the book, these teachers describe the advantages and complexities of using portfolios as a way to evaluate and promote student achievement. In the portfolio…

The purpose of this paper is to present an ethnographic study (Cardoso, 1999) involving six primary school pupils and doing simple experiments with everyday home equipment in the context of learning science. The hands-on science activities were carried out by children with the help of their parents. Results showed that children learnt at home and…