Creating a safe, open environment for discussion is a critical first step in examining topics of diversity. Because public schools may be the only social arena in the United States where different social classes, ethnicities, and genders come together on a regular basis, it is important to involve preservice teachers in discussions involving…

Assessing School-Age Child Care Quality (ASQ) is a five-step process which guides program staff as they evaluate the quality of their program so they can develop priorities and improve achievement of goals. The five steps in the ASQ process are: (1) preparing for program improvement; (2) gathering information; (3) building the Action Plan; (4)…

This paper uses a qualitative case study approach to discuss the training of special education teachers in mathematics instruction. The case focuses on a remedial mathematics intervention based on social competence theory with an adolescent with cerebral palsy. Two student teachers attempted to encourage mathematics instruction which focused on…

This handbook enables teachers to proceed from understanding to practical incorporation in the classroom of "Common Essential Learnings," an appropriate and sound pedagogy, based on techniques of questioning, reflection, and dialogue. The "Common Essential Learnings" comprise six categories: (1) communication, which focuses on…

This paper analyzes discrepant findings from research on science teacher knowledge and classroom discourse. In new science teachers' classrooms, discourse during laboratory activities differed in important ways from discourse during other types of instruction. Furthermore, teacher subject-matter knowledge had effects that were not predicted by the…

This training facilitator's manual is intended to train individuals in implementing the Insights program for self- and career awareness for the elementary grades. Topics discussed in the introduction include: the theory of the Insights program, self-esteem, the basic assumptions of worth and worthiness, fundamental life questions and dynamic…

This study of college-bound 11th graders assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of instruction that used a structured cooperative learning technique. The students worked in dyads with scripts that contained two learning situations with two roles: (1) explainer and checker; and (2) solver and checker. Both students then worked on summary…

The World Wide Web has allowed the delineation of distance versus place-based education to become a spectrum rather than a binary choice. This paper discusses a novel format of distance education, called "Virtual Seminars," and its relation to issues within cognitive flexibility theory. Virtual seminars are interactive courses offered…

In recognition of the need to improve preparation of future teachers and following a series of discussions, the faculty of a mid-sized college's department of elementary education devised a plan to integrate technology into their preservice teacher education courses. Faculty members agreed to participate in a 3-week preliminary group experience.…

A case study was used in an instructional design class to facilitate the transfer of conceptual knowledge to concrete concerns and to aid instructional technology graduate students' understanding of the steps involved in designing, analyzing, and implementing an effective needs analysis. The case study involved real events at fictitious company…

A study investigated the possible relationships among situation-specific affective variables, motivational-attitudinal variables, and level of language learning in 70 students who were enrolled in a series of beginning Japanese language courses at the university level. Variables investigated included language class risk-taking, language class…

This book describes issues, trends, and practical teaching concerns that surround cooperative learning. It puts forward specific organizational plans and content area lessons for teachers who would like to become more familiar with active team learning in the classroom. Major themes include collaborative approaches to multicultural education,…

An instructional approach that promotes an interactive or experiential model rather than a reductionist model in special education is discussed. The approach, called instructional conversations, encourages students to use meaningful language without focusing on the correctness of form. The teacher's role is one of facilitating genuine dialogue…

This document is part of a series that seeks to help people think constructively about foreign policy issues, to improve citizen involvement, and to encourage debate on public issues. The document examines the history of the conflict in Vietnam, both before and during U.S. involvement. Options that the document suggests for debate appear under the…

In order to improve the quality of instruction at California State University Fullerton, this 3-year project established multi-disciplinary faculty resource teams from liberal arts, social sciences, and professional programs to design and lead one-week discussions in host classes. Teams were composed of seven members with a core group of three…