Describes an assessment model as applied in an English for academic purposes, pre-university English as a Second Language writing program that allows teachers to set standards while promoting learner self- and peer-assessment. Points out that this model encourages learner control while keeping performance-based standards at desirable levels. (13…

Describes and illustrates the interaction between personal, policy, and organizational factors that influence teachers' decisions regarding content and teaching methods. Specifically questions how this information might be used in determining the efficacy of educational reforms. Includes verbatim comments from teachers and a sample of interview…

Maintains that fundamental historical concepts can be imparted to high school students through the use of photography, painting, film, literature, and other forms of popular culture. Provides many examples of students utilizing popular culture to understand conceptions of historical time, locate meaning, and empathize with historical people. (MJP)

Describes a field sketch mapping project conducted with a sixth-grade class. The project involved selecting appropriate sites around the school to map, organizing the students, and instructing them about measuring distances and drawing maps. Illustrations include assignments and examples of students' work. (MJP)

Presents the results of an exercise investigating the representation of women in national and regional newspapers. Discovers that stories about women consistently focus on victimization and gender oddities. They also routinely include personal information excluded in stories about men (physical descriptions and familial status). Includes…

Maintains that a required course in public policy analysis can serve as a natural capstone experience for undergraduate curricula in public administration. By teaching analysis, rather than teaching about analysis, undergraduate programs can integrate other elements of the curriculum and prepare students to understand the policy process more…

Examines several important principles of writing (e.g., different approaches for different audiences) and applies these to economics and business education. Discusses approaches to teaching writing in this context. Includes a rhetorical case assignment, teaching tips, and discussion of students' reactions to this approach. (MJP)

Describes a class project conducted by multiethnic, limited English speaking, fifth-grade students. The students produced their own videos as part of lessons they developed about their countries of origin. Maintains that this process increases language and social skills while it develops social studies content. (MJP)

Investigates teachers' interpretation and evaluation of historical documents and the teachers' construction of historical truth. Discovers teachers use a variety of approaches, including comparing historical sources, searching for accuracy, and attempting to discern a narrative or story. Discusses implications of this and poses questions for…

Considers the applications and limitations of supplementing political science instruction with USENET discussion groups. Maintains that the engaging and topical nature of the discussion groups can enhance traditional course materials. Notes, however, that USENET comments often are not indicative of the general public. Briefly discusses reference…

Discusses the advantages of creating teaching portfolios. Portfolios help teachers examine how and why they teach, how they change, whether they evaluate, and whether they get and give feedback. The self-reflective statements must be supported with personal materials, student and colleague feedback, and excellence in teaching products. (SM)

Utilizes selections from 17th century philosophical writing as instructional material for a series of learning activities that reveal the influence of the material on early American democratic thought. Activities involve selections from Isaac Newton, John Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, The Declaration of Independence, and Bishop Bossuet. (MJP)

Examines how new educational technologies can invigorate existing educational communities, facilitate the creation of new educational communities, and interfere with the formation of desired types of educational communities. Focuses on e-mail, listservs and newsgroups, electronic publication, and the World Wide Web, and discusses issues of equity.…

Goals of block building in early childhood classrooms focus on physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development. Reports survey results of the value teachers place on block play. Offers illustrations of task cards to use with blocks in math, language arts, social studies, and science. Discusses guidelines and suggests idea cards and sentence…

Encourages and guides teachers in utilizing direct praise of students to increase performance and self confidence, and to build positive self esteem. Details specific language habits, gestures, and methods for teachers to identify their behaviors, critical remarks, and evaluative terms, and replace them with feedback that reinforces correct…