Learning place geography is an important part of school geography. Reports on research findings addressing effective ways to teach place geography. Finds that research indicates significant differences between mnemonic and non-mnemonic treatment groups. (CFR)

Examines the knowledge construction processes of novice programmers using parentheses and quotes in hypermedia; identifies characteristics of successful and unsuccessful students working off- and on-line. The strategies of perceptual matching and computer feedback were used in both settings to interpret of the information presented. (Author/AEF)

Maintains that gathering and analyzing data about the nature and scope of violence is an important step in designing meaningful safe-schools projects. Presents a safe-schools survey lesson plan designed for secondary schools. Includes lesson objectives, step-by-step instructional procedures, and sample student survey questions. (CFR)

Examines the search strategies of fifth graders who were asked locate the answers to three specific questions in an unfamiliar book, all of which contained terms that could be found in the book's index. Finds that students who were asked guiding questions before and during their search were more successful than their counterparts who were simply…

Focuses on the resurgence of action research in teaching. Based on the concept that education is a social science whose theoretical principles should be grounded in the practitioner's knowledge, action research is a viable model for getting teachers involved in educational research. A typical action research project develops in successive stages.…

Examines whether greater focus on linguistic forms in the teaching of second languages could lead to improved student performance. Findings indicate a higher accuracy rate for students exposed to form-focused teaching in the later stages of language learning. Additional research, preferably initiated by teachers, is recommended. (26 references)…

A survey of student use of audio recordings of lectures at universities revealed that students valued the opportunity to listen to the lectures they missed; fewer students sought academic staff to ask questions; students made copies of the recordings away from the library, which reduced pressure on library facilities; and few students deliberately…

Introduces Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) and explains how those practices are effective with five- through eight-year olds. Key elements discussed are: children learn by doing through active engagement, the idea of play with intent and purpose, and moving from the simple to the complex in planning for learning in active and engaging…

In communicative language teaching, one has to deal with both pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic components of language. Too often, learners overlook the cultural inferences of a sentence. One has to favor a cultural verification phase because it is the cultural context that imparts meaning to an event and enables mastery of a discursive process.…

Explores how cross-curricular themes can be integrated into the modern languages lesson. Key requirements include the need to clarify objectives, identify what can be usefully explored, introduce cultural comparisons at the appropriate time, focus on authentic reading materials, and use a basic core language and previously developed activities.…

Several key principles for planning an early literacy curriculum are discussed, including finding and using children's "funds of knowledge," building democratic communities in early childhood settings, honoring diversity among children and teachers, and finding strategies that effectively engage children. Finally, above all else, the…

Presents an interview with Bell Yung, a scholar of Chinese music and ethnomusicology. Maintains that world music (music from many nations and cultures) should be taught as early as possible in the schools and at home. Includes two lesson plans for teaching about Chinese music. (CFR)

This overview reviews a program of interlinked cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations of the nature of cognitive development in infants and young children with Down's Syndrome. The research falls into three groupings: object concept studies, operant learning experiments, and IQ studies. Early results suggest a common learning style which…

The development and validation of a Learning Style Questionnaire (LSQ) for use with upper primary school children studying science in an Asian context are described. Four important learning dimensions were identified: (1) concrete-abstract; (2) passive-active; (3) low-high self-confidence/self-esteem; and (4) superficial-deep motivation. (KR)

Fifty children, ranging in age from 4 to 10, were individually administered a series of tasks involving different combinations of 2 items selected from a discrete set of items. Analyses of their performances revealed a series of six, increasingly sophisticated, solution strategies ranging from random number selection of items to a systematic…