Argues against Richard S. Prawat's (1995) assertion that Dewey did not favor an activity-oriented, child-centered approach to learning. Also, it disagrees with Prawat's belief that meaning, for Dewey, was not just between people, but was also between events and people. Dewey's theories on the importance of language to meanings and the problem of…

Contends that Garrison (1996) overlooks evidence that points to the transactional nature of Dewey's theory on learning and uses Dewey's reconstruction of William James's theory of emotion to support the author's claim that Dewey emphasized activity. Following a brief discussion on intellectualism--that ideas represent the only mode of knowing--the…

Describes various learning theories and illustrates their relevance to student affairs. Suggests that student affairs professionals focus on learning theories in order to describe their mission, design new efforts that complement and support academic programs on campus, and provide contexts that maximize student learning opportunities. (SNR)

Examines the current status of using the Internet in scholarly research in the field of education. Highlights include learning theory, including cognitive abilities, affective preferences, and learning styles and instruction; access to information; active learning; affordability; collaborative learning; shortcomings of Internet technology use; and…

Argues that the traditional paradigm used in teaching science and mathematics should be replaced by one which focuses on the students' own conceptions, prior experiences, and active participation in learning. (DDR)

Critiques two popular and current perspectives on the nature of understanding in science education, and offers a competing perspective drawing from Dewey, aesthetics, and aesthetic experience. Uses aesthetic understanding as an analytic lens to critique and illuminate the learning of three students studying geology in a fourth-grade classroom.…

Discussion of students' perceptions of their learning environment focuses on the concept of self-efficacy, which is defined as a sense of confidence regarding the performance of specific tasks. The premise is that student self-efficacy beliefs regarding academic performance can have implications for improving learning environments and student…

Describes a project designed to deliver statistically sound evidence of improved student learning in classrooms using the environment as an integrating context for learning. (DDR)

John Dewey believed that all genuine learning comes about through experience. This introduction to Dewey's work explains Dewey's theories regarding knowledge and intellectual development, the acquisition of a body of facts versus learning scientific ways of treating experience, and the significance of Dewey's theories on informal learning centers…

Provides an overview of the process of designing and developing a Web-based course using instructional design principles and models, including constructivist and objectivist theories. Explains the process of implementing an instructional design model in designing a Web-based undergraduate course and evaluates the model based on course evaluations.…

The current perspective of autonomous learning defines it as the agentive exhibition of resourcefulness, initiative, and persistence in self-directed learning. As a form of human agency, it has been argued in the literature that this perspective should be consistent with Bandura's (1986) Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The purpose of this article…

In this article, I explore some of the epistemological, technical, and ethical challenges in doing research on instructed second language (L2) learning in Canadian school settings. I examine these challenges from the viewpoint of classroom research that has been influenced by cognitive-interactionist theories of learning. This includes my own…

ZAPs are short, self-contained computer programs that encourage students to experience psychological phenomena in a vivid, self-explanatory way, and that are meant to evoke enthusiasm about psychological topics. ZAPs were designed according to principles that originate from experiential and discovery learning theories. The interactive approach…

Recent research on children's historical thinking has produced rich descriptions of instruction. However, the research literature is largely lacking a theoretical model of learning. This article asserts that developmental constructivist theory informs research design and interpretation, provides explanatory power, and promises more useful…

This chapter examines spiritual awakenings and creative expression that influence changes in the life course. In what ways can learning environments foster growth and integration of the whole person?