Interviews and observations revealed that only two of seven teachers fully accepted the Students Achieving Independent Learning (SAIL) program, a strategies-based approach to reading instruction. A major challenge seemed to be that the teachers did not know how to coordinate SAIL with other reading instruction. (MDM)

Six-year-olds from Switzerland (n=30) and Argentina (15 middle- and 15 lower-class) were tested for understanding of inequalities between multidigit numbers and place value. Students could explain size relationships better than place value. The three types of children performed differently. (Contains 30 references.) (JAF)

Motivation research emphasizes importance of encouraging students to take responsibility for their performance. Academic achievement is matter of wanting to achieve, focusing on task, and believing in oneself. Teachers can encourage student self-regulation by ensuring that students understand expectations; creating a comfortable, orderly…

Proposes the use of the tournament debate format to encourage active student involvement in the discussion of philosophical and value-related questions surrounding natural resource management. Suggest modifications to traditional debate formats to aid in the classroom use. (MDH)

Argues that educators should reconsider their current commitment to problem solving as the way to promote constructionist teaching and learning and should focus on teaching important ideas developed within the disciplines. This idea-based social constructivism focuses on the possibilities of a given situation. (SLD)

Discusses an instructional strategy for a college-level, geography course in which changes in student's attitudes about specific U.S. states are observed. Describes the process of collecting and analyzing data from students about desirable and undesirable states. Concludes that physical environment and perceived social factors are important…

Reviews research on geographic literacy, particularly related to identification of countries, cities, and physical features of maps. Reports that preservice social studies teachers had difficulty in constructing accurate mental world maps. Provides practical suggestions for improving the geographic literacy of preservice teachers. (CFR)

Describes a teaching technique based on using children's questions as a formative and summative assessment tool with emphasis placed on children's answers as well as their questions. Children's explanations clearly show their thinking. Eliciting further explanations allows children to look deep into their understanding and construct meanings for…

Environmental education is often characterized by a concern with developing attitudes and behavior rather than developing environmental knowledge and concepts. Students may thus unknowingly hold and later teach environmental misconceptions. Discusses the use of interactive worksheets to provide a time-effective means of developing students'…

Traces the practice of relating academic science with the life world of the student to the 1600s. Focuses on identifying elements of a curriculum framework and cognitive strategies that seek to prepare students to be productive citizens in the world. Contains 37 references. (DDR)

Arguments relevant to higher education institutions and their faculty are discussed for delaying versus going ahead with development of Web pages and their related technologies. A model is outlined for logical progression of educational Web development in four phases: experimentation, template development, reexamination and redevelopment, and…

Comparison of 17 academically gifted and average intermediate grade students on the use of elaborative interrogation to improve reading comprehension found that gifted children had greater recall than average students prior to and one week after training, despite equivalent levels of strategy use. Results suggest the optimal level of strategy use…

Reports a study of the learning strategies and processes of four adult learners of Chinese, using data collected over a two-year period. Students showed a number of different approaches to learning, not all of which could be classified "good language learner" strategies. Findings suggest areas for exploration in immersion education, especially…

Describes a pilot project at London Guildhall University Students Union (United Kingdom) that helps students acquire an understanding of independent learning through experiential learning facilitated by student mentors via a peer support dedicated intranet Web site. Discusses learning and study skills, technical constraints, and student…

Lists strategies for promoting functional vision use in children with visual and motor impairments, including providing postural stability, presenting visual attention tasks when energy level is the highest, using a slanted work surface, placing target items in varied locations within reach, and determining the most effective visual adaptations.…