This study examined the value added to standard textbook-based instruction of plant biodiversity by the use of the exemplary interactive CD-ROM, "Conserving Earth's Biodiversity." This CD-ROM features renowned conservation figure E.O. Wilson. The setting of the research was an introductory biology course in a rural public community…

The paper draws on in-depth qualitative comments from student evaluation of an e-learning module on an MSc in Information Technologies and Management, to develop a picture of their perspective on the experience. Questionnaires that yielded some basic quantitative data and a rich seam of qualitative data were administered. General questions on…

The purpose of this paper is to provide background information about the spread of viruses in a population, to introduce an adaptable procedure to further the understanding of epidemiology in the high school setting, and to show how hypothesis testing and statistics can be incorporated into a high school lab exercise. It describes a project which…

This paper uses self-study to analyse the development of a generative, research-based approach to mentoring initial teacher training students in a Training School/university partnership and its contribution to redefining teacher education practice. It focuses on the ontological values and co-learning of the authors as they work collaboratively…

Modern educators face new challenges both in teaching about culture, and in teaching across cultures. While culture is often addressed in the "content" of the curriculum, it is less frequently incorporated into the "process" of teaching and learning. In short, cultural knowledge does not equal intercultural competence. Being global citizens…

We were recently challenged with trying to maintain the integrity and learning experience of our Physiology course, which included the use of long-answer, essay-style test questions, with a class size that increased over 2 yr by approximately 200 students. We reorganized the teaching assistant (TA) support structure in an attempt to keep the…

When future teacher-librarians enter their preservice education, what kinds of advocacy-focused learning experiences can and should they expect? How can preservice teacher-librarians be supported as they develop the character traits of advocates for effective, integrated school library programs? In this article, the authors, first and foremost,…

As most schools have installed whiteboard technology in at least one teaching area by year in primary schools and by subject in secondary schools there is evidence that not only technology and teaching approaches change but so too does the totality of learning experience summarised as "culture." As part of a research project concerned with the…

Since the publication of the Dearing report (1997) there has been an increasing emphasis on the quality of teaching and learning provision within higher education institutions (HEIs). This focus on provision has in turn generated much educational research into "approaches" to both teaching practice and student learning within higher education…

Educators are often torn between impositions of the institution in which they work and the imperatives of their individual courses or units and the impact this tension might have on student satisfaction with the learning experience. It is common to hear that students must graduate with multiple generic attributes or skills, yet these skills may…

A multicultural curriculum affirms and includes all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, language, religion, physical ability, or mental ability. The goal is to reduce prejudice and bias by discussing these issues. The Bloom/Banks curriculum framework was developed as a model for creating multicultural gifted…

With the widening knowledge base students will need to be more flexible in their learning habits. Traditionally, teaching school science often involves teacher-centred methods like lectures, experimental demonstration or guided inquiry. Plain knowledge dissemination will not adequately prepare students to cope with the changing world. Hence,…

Why teach art? Answers generated by preservice art teachers usually suggest a range of reasons (i.e.: so that students will have knowledge about art, acquire the skills of artists, and/or gain aesthetic appreciation). It is rare when students recognize that art is also taught in order to experience something yet unknown to the teacher, whether…

This article reports the findings from a secondary analysis of the data from two qualitative studies conducted by the researcher regarding the self-directed learning experiences of prostate and breast cancer patients. Of interest were possible differences in the descriptions of the participants' experiences that appear to relate to gender.…

Two studies, a cross-sectional (173 first-year and 215 final-year participants) and a longitudinal (81 participants), examined whether two aspects of the learning experience of student teachers (epistemological beliefs and learning approaches), and the interrelations between them changed as a result of their tertiary education. Between the first…