Describes a study of university students that examined the ability of people to learn a computer system by exploration and discusses the role of thinking aloud and reflection to obtain information about the goals of the user. Considers display-based, exploratory learning in relation to planning and problem solving. (Author/LRW)

Describes a cost-benefit analysis study that resulted in unfavorable financial outcomes and discusses how this result became a learning opportunity for human-performance development/performance-improvement professionals in the organization. Considers failure in organizations and learning from failure. (Author/LRW)

Presents a reaction to Thompson and Neville's (1999) article, "Racism, Mental Health, and Mental Health Practice" and proposes that the unifying theme is categorization. Extends the concept of categorization, demonstrates it as the "lowest common denominator" of racism, and discusses the implications of categorization for…

Uses an evolutionary perspective of conceptual change to consider a conception in the domain of linear functions. Summarizes the results of the written assessments and presents an analysis of the discussions for two pairs of students to show that the use of the x-intercept can be framed as a transitional conception. Contains 31 references.…

Reviews programs such as the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and literature on the scholarship of teaching at the higher education level. Suggests that the scholarship of teaching is not synonymous with excellent teaching, but requires faculty to "go meta," to systematically investigate questions of student learning.…

Addresses psychological and anthropological views of situated learning by focusing on the concept of a learning relationship and uses it in a conceptual framework for designing learning technology. Discusses communities of practice, and emphasizes social identification as a central aspect of learning which should influence the design of learning…

Discusses the use of performance assessment and portfolio assessment as viable means for assessing children's efforts. Provides the basis for using both performance assessment and portfolio assessment together in order to get a more authentic assessment of children's performance in the elementary classroom. Presents guidelines to facilitate this…

Interviews with 16 apprentices and 8 trainers focused on the extent to which they perceive the workplace as a learning environment. A clash between production and learning goals meant learning was undervalued and incidental to the process of production. This jeopardizes the development of continuous learning attitudes. (SK)

The author responds to a comparison of her learning conceptions theory with another theory, applauding the effort to link theories of learning and gender. Complexities of relationships among epistemic structures, patterns within structures, and learning activities are highlighted, as well as dilemmas in assessing multiple layers of learning.…

Reviews management education from a nonlinear systems perspective, concluding that it fails to incorporate double-loop learning or take into account experiential learning and development. Finds an overreliance on management fads and fashions in business school curricula. (SK)

Examines U.S. environmental policy since 1970 as a learning process and as an effort to develop three kinds of capacities for policy learning: technical learning, conceptual learning, and social learning. (Contains 70 references.) (Author/JOW)

Presents an excerpt from a lecture entitled "Educating the Imagination." Considers the danger of elitism, the danger of being pulled into a kind of art-for-art's sake world. Tries to find connections between the imagination, the arts, and the continuing pursuit of social justice. Talks about imagination in connection with the arts, in…

Describes a study that investigated the function of gestures when high school students interacted with a computer-based modeling program. Suggests that because the learning process involves the learner's body, learning environments that do not support students' use of body and gesture can limit what and how they learn. (Author/LRW)

Engestrom examines activity theory and expansive learning by describing Who are the subjects of learning? Why do they learn? What do they learn? and How do they learn? Presents five principles: activity system as the unit of analysis, multiple voices, historicity, contradictions as sources of change, and expansive transformation. Young provides…

Responders to a journal may include peers, instructors, and oneself. Responders must balance direction and freedom in assisting the writer. Methods include descriptive personal response, holistic assessment, and partial assessment of passages selected by the writer. (SK)