Discusses the essential elements of Montessori educational philosophy and theory, focusing on the integration, development, and maintenance of the four characteristics of normalization (concentration, work, discipline, sociability) into adulthood. Discusses Montessori's view that development and retention of these positive characteristics could be…

Examines to what extent students participate in designing, justifying, and deciding on their own instruction by referring to a research project on the participation of students in the teaching of specific subjects. Focuses on one example that shows students may pursue aims other than the teacher's without provoking a breakdown of instruction. (CMK)

Describes the Learning Enhancement Action/Resource Network faculty-development model, designed to improve teaching and learning at the College of Engineering at Iowa State University. Argues that teaching should be grounded in students' learning, and supports the constructivist notion that learning is an active process of knowledge construction.…

Uses four children's explanations to illustrate their use of assimilation and inference in a butterfly life-cycle activity. Describes how interviewing young children about their understanding, and recording and reflecting upon their answers, can allow teachers to better understand how students process information and construct knowledge, and…

Discussion of student assessment focuses on issues related to distance education. Topics include purposes of assessment; performance-based assessment; constructivist approaches; examples of alternative assessments, including portfolios, projects, and problem-based learning activities; implementation; and distance education as a catalyst for…

Describes a collaborative instructional design project in a university course using constructivist theory, exploratory and resource-based learning, electronic communities, and integrated information technology immersion. Discusses collaboration between teaching and library faculty, learning outcomes for students and faculty, and future…

Compares and contrasts two types of schools, the standard versus the interactive model. Topics include an emphasis on process versus an emphasis on results; constructivism and the changing roles of teachers and students; school culture; answers versus questions; and future versus present. (LRW)

Explains the main factors affecting implementation of curriculum innovations, including those related to teachers, innovations, and change agents. Introduces Hong Kong's Target- Oriented Curriculum initiative, a constructivist, active-learning framework, and shows how these factors enhanced or hindered program implementation. Teacher attitudes…

When faced with real-world problems, students devise accurate, logical, and creative solutions using skills connecting to different subject areas. Students are intrigued by assignments involving preservation of species and design of environmentally friendly products and transit systems. Problem-based learning depends on coaching, modeling, and…

Considers the advantages of online journals, such as wider access to new knowledge and increased availability of research findings. Describes one specific electronic journal, "Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal" and discusses the five aspects of the inaugural edition that demonstrate how online journals can exemplify the…

Addresses key issues facing designers of Web-based university courses. Topics include online courses; the technologies involved; online study guides; assignments; online examples; course communications; interactive skill building; theoretical bases; and constructivism and instructional design. (Author/LRW)

Explains Rom Harre's theory of identity projects. Discusses the educational implications of Harre's model, the 'social reality matrix' (individual identity is dependent on social context), for the teaching of English, foreign language, and mathematics in the lower secondary school curriculum (ages 11-16). (CMK)

This article follows a secondary school social studies teacher in Alabama through five years of working to integrate technology and constructivism into his classroom. Results show successes in helping students gain new skills or enhance existing skills in technology, critical thinking, collaboration, presentation, and self-learning. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of elementary school children who have a preferred visual learning style focuses on a study that investigated the impact of the use of computers and a visually rich software program in a constructivist classroom environment on their writing. Results show an increase in volume and linguistic complexity in their writing skills. (LRW)

This article examines individuals in a community as defined by their membership in an organization. In such a setting, individuals often make use of their social contacts to make sense of events in the organization. Yet, the organizational justice literature is generally silent on how these contacts shape information seeking, volunteering, and…