Maintains that the use of electronic mail to link students from other states and nations is an effective way to heighten student interest and improve instruction. Describes electronic pen pal programs linking students in New Zealand, England, and Kansas. (CFR)

As new technologies make different ways of communicating available, the language arts teacher and the media specialist can work together to develop literacy. The media center could become the electronic publishing center of the school; through communication projects, students will learn to access, validate, and transfer information in an…

Describes an eighth grade computer literacy course in which students used spreadsheet programs to illustrate statistics for classroom presentations. Discusses the use of color and animation in graphs, and the value of active participation using technology to increase student motivation, retention, and self-expression. (AEF)

Contends that most high school graduates have not taken any courses that examine the experiences of minority groups. Summarizes the results of a college classroom experiment that involved the integration of oral history into the curriculum. Concludes that oral history is a viable teaching tool. (CFR)

Maintains traditional grading techniques can be a form of authentic assessment. Discusses three aspects of authentic assessment: (1) interdisciplinary problem-solving; (2) grading process as well as the product; and (3) developing a grading rubric to be shared with students. (CFR)

Uses Japanese family crests to motivate students to construct a family history. Includes background information on Japanese history and culture. Provides an outline for the student research project. Supplies a list of Japanese emblems and their symbolism. (NL)

Describes student involvement within interdisciplinary, cooperative-learning environments that utilize desktop publishing, computer interfacing, and video production to promote students' investigation, analysis, and synthesis of scientific issues. Each student group is guided by a preservice university partner, from a science methods course, to…

Presents a solution to the problem of helping high-risk students develop the mathematics skills they need. Suggests that individualized projects, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that are tied in with the real world, be employed to build student self-esteem. Appendices provide example projects. (MDH)

Offers a field-tested stock market unit designed to develop mathematical skills involving fractions and decimals, basic understanding of the stock market, and hypothesis testing skills in real world situations. Includes tables displaying questions, tally sheets, and instructions, as well as a list of related activities. (MDH)

Discusses the National History Day program and describes the selection of the 1995 theme, "Conflict and Compromise in History." Presents a series of potential project topics divided into 10 categories. Includes an extensive bibliography designed for student research. (CFR)

Reported is an approach to teaching the use of Macintosh computers to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students within the context of a simplified model of scientific research including proposal, data collection and analyses, and presentation of findings. Word processing, graphing, statistical, painting, and poster software were sequentially…

Presents an activity that integrates science, environmental education, art, and social studies. Students identify and research an endangered species and construct a totem pole depicting the species using a recyclable material. (MDH)

Presents four techniques to bring current science controversy into the classroom: (1) daily reviews and discussions of current science articles; (2) weekly group analysis of an assigned article; (3) individual student reports of a science controversy; and (4) a yearlong cooperative group study of a science issue. (MDH)

Explores why community services learning (CSL) is the right thing to do for professional renewal, enrichment, and meaning. Examples are given from Gig Harbor High School (Washington). The role of CSL in changing school cultures is also examined. Service learning is a path to better ways to educate. (SLD)

Poster and group activities help students understand the concept of wetlands. Activities involve students in classifying, defining, and depicting wetlands. (MDH)