Describes a psychology course that implemented a problem-solving approach to provide students with a hands-on experience of community psychology in a multicultural South Africa. Traces the students' reactions to the course from their initial enthusiasm and emergence of frustration to their eventual understanding of other cultures. (CMK)

Discusses how critical multiculturalism can be used to inform academic service learning, offering as an example the case study of a Pennsylvania State University project in which college students work with homeless citizens in Washington, DC. Stresses the importance of intentionality in planning the community service components of academic service…

At Lowell Elementary School, gifted and highly motivated students from Tacoma (Washington) elementary schools come together to work on projects and develop their skills in creative thinking, critical thinking, problem solving, and group interaction. Projects draw on student interests to foster motivation, independent and cooperative study, and…

Presents an approach to language and culture instruction for North American students of Spanish that centers on student-led investigations of cultural identity in the Americas, designed to allow students to overcome possible stereotypes and generalizations concerning the target culture(s), and to examine their own cultural identities at the same…

Reports an effort to teach second-language students how to become autonomous in their language learning by combining learning-strategy instruction with course content. Examines usefulness of a required language-learning project for guiding students through self-assessment, goal-setting, planning, monitoring, and evaluating their own language…

Chronicles and reflects on an attempt to implement the Reggio Emilia project approach in an all-day Head Start program. Uses the example of one child, "Jimmy," to discuss how the addition of small group time and project work to the program's curriculum taught children the value of relationships and collaboration. (EV)

Uses the work of M. C. Escher to instruct upper elementary students in the transformation of flat shape into three-dimensional form. Outlines the lesson as a series of sections: (1) reviewing form drawing; (2) creating three-dimensional effects; (3) imagining the forms in an inhabited world; and (4) using color and shading. (DSK)

Project offers grades 3-8 students hands-on design practice creating built environments to solve a society-based architectural problem. Students plan buildings, draw floor plans, and make scale models of the structures that are then used in related interdisciplinary activities. (Author)

Teachers who want to show their students how to use multimedia in their projects should consider using HyperStudio. Four sites listed show HyperStudio's capabilities. Discussion includes publishing HyperStudio stacks on the Internet. Sites for more information are also listed. (AEF)

Describes the use of technology at the Minnesota New Country School, a project-based, non-profit public charter secondary school. Discusses the project-based curriculum, including student self-paced projects that must relate to Minnesota's performance standards; the cooperative of teachers who provide services to the school; and personalized…

Examines innovative ways for school libraries to collect organize, and make effective use of student work. Highlights include recognizing original work; student writing; student posters of favorite books or characters; databases for organizing information; videotaping of students' activities and presentations; electronic products; events;…

Describes an integrated curriculum activity directed by middle school students to promote voting during the presidential election. Notes how students raised money to pay for a billboard advertisement they designed. Discusses the connection between the project and content areas, including electoral procedure. (JPB)

Discusses an art project for fifth and sixth grade that was inspired by a Laurel Burch plate with a jungle motif. Explains that students choose a project name, make lists of images associated with their chosen name, and use those images in their round designs. (CMK)

Describes two projects undertaken with the author's high school English classes in which students chose writing they wished to share with their own community, and then published it, in one case selling their class anthology to selected businesses around town. Describes the increase in enthusiasm for writing and care and professionalism caused by…

Focuses on the creation of children's books as a form of alternative assessment in the history classroom. Describes a project in which high school students developed children's books of historic persons. Incorporates three of Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences: linguistic, spatial, and personal. Provides the assignment, the grading rubric,…