Intelligence-friendly classrooms require a teaching/learning process governed by extant knowledge and theories about developing human beings' intellectual potential. Guidelines are based on setting a safe emotional climate, creating a rich learning environment, teaching the mind-tools and skills of life, developing learners' skillfulness,…

Evaluated the "ThinkerTools Inquiry Curriculum," a computer-enhanced, middle school science curriculum, to determine the impact of including the Reflective Assessment Process. Found that students' performance improved significantly on both physics and inquiry assessments. Controlled comparison revealed that students' learning was greatly…

Describes a year in which new teachers reflected upon their own formation as learners and teachers. Portrays the transformation and social change that characterize the year in relation to their ideas about English as a school subject and about what constitutes the knowledge they want their pupils to acquire. (PA)

A high-school English teacher deplores barking-media sound bites of politicians pretending to resolve complex educational problems with one-dimensional "solutions." Highlighting specific classroom learning situations, he ponders three paradoxes: justice is not necessarily fair; freedom comes with limits; and clarity comes through…

Discusses the growth of electronic education and the need to educate in a new environment. Topics include ways to learn; knowledge workers; distance education and globalization; the online education market; government's role; foundations; accreditation commissions; future challenges; content provider versus context provider; profit versus…

Examines public library services to young children and their families and the possible effects of those services on preschool learning. Topics include library-community partnerships to promote literacy; readiness to learn; and children at risk for difficulties in acquiring literacy, including socioeconomic factors and ethnic and language…

Explores how users interact and learn during computer-based simulations given graphical and textual forms of feedback. Graduate students were randomly assigned computer simulations with graphical feedback, textual feedback, or graphical plus textual feedback. Findings indicate that graphical feedback provides experiential learning, but that these…

An approach to college teaching that encourages active student involvement in learning and student responsibility is described as applied in an introductory education course. The learning situation has structured activities, but students decide what to study, plan actions, and follow through. Processing experiences and understanding is emphasized.…

Analyzes the construction of mathematical concepts and techniques developed by high school algebra students in computer-assisted instruction; examines learning styles of the most inventive students; and discusses the use of student-generated mathematical techniques in the development of new software intended to cultivate mathematical inventiveness…

The case is made that advances in chaos and complexity theories and self-organizing systems have important implications for the field of learning disabilities. Problems with behaviorism are discussed and the properties of self-organizing systems are explained. The concepts of continuous, nonlinear development and motivation and volition are…

One element in debates over core college curricula, balancing breadth and depth of reading, is addressed from the point of view of Paulo Freire and his theory of critical literacy. Three levels at which a college course based on Freirean principles might be developed are outlined. At each level, the aim is to enhance breadth of perspective through…

Recommends using mnemonics as an introduction to the study of human memory and cognitive processes. Students generally have some familiarity with mnemonics and the device lends itself to a number of interesting games and experiments. Includes suggested activities using mnemonics and the Monopoly board game. (MJP)

Describes an undergraduate business course in organizational behavior in which students participated in experiential learning exercises linked to classroom conceptual learning, then reflected on the experiences in a written synthesizing statement. Examples of students' insights are provided. Advantages and disadvantages of the approach and…

Investigates the effects of two instructional strategies, visual display (animation, and static graphics with and without motion cues) and contextual presentation, in the acquisition of electronic troubleshooting skills using computer-based instruction. Study concludes that use of visual displays and contextual presentation be based on the…

Observed four fifth-graders who collaboratively solved problems integrating concepts related to fractions and area. Compared features of learning through peer collaboration with teacher-directed learning, including whole solution versus component parts, appropriation versus scaffolding, analysis versus synthesis, conflict versus errorless…