This book helps readers imagine new instructional possibilities, try new classroom activities, and question their own teaching--learning process through the use of computers to support student literacy growth. Maureen Carroll shares her study of how one teacher and her elementary-grade students integrated computer-based literacy instruction into…

This paper first postulates the existence of co-constructed patterns of participation in the classroom and then documents one such pattern of participation: Kikan-shido (instruction between desks), both as it is enacted and as it is perceived by the classroom participants. In the course of detailing the use of kikan-shido in three Australian…

Pre-service teacher education is concerned with producing graduates who move into the field able, in terms of both skills and attitudes, to implement research-based conclusions that may not always coincide with the attitudes of previously trained teachers. We sought to assess attitudes and attitude change regarding contemporary issues in education…

In this collection of essays, the authors use Lev Vygotsky's cultural-historical theory of human development to frame their analyses of schooling, with particular emphasis on the ways in which literacy practices are mediated by social interaction and cultural artifacts. The collection extends Vygotsky's cultural-historical theoretical framework to…

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach that challenges students to "learn to learn"--students work cooperatively in groups to seek solutions to real-world problems and, more importantly, to develop skills to become self-directed learners. PBL is unique in its integral emphasis on core content along with problem solving.…

This study examined learning communities at two community colleges, North Idaho College (NIC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) (Washington). Recent emphasis on learning outcomes and transforming the curriculum to be more learning centered has often come into direct conflict with operating under tight budget constraints. Learning…

Literature circles generally involve four or five students who are actively engaged in cooperative learning. Learners choose a library book to read based on interest. The same titled paperback might be discussed by participants in the literature circle. Alternative suggestions for literature circles include choosing a library book on a similar…

This conference paper focuses on how to motivate elementary students toward NASPE standards. It includes integrated physical education lesson plans based on the the NASPE standards and provides tips for assessment. (AD)

This book is written for teachers, librarians, museum staff, educational program leaders, and parents who are often faced with a myriad of questions from children about insects. Questions were obtained during visits to schools and published solicitation and represent those most commonly asked. There are 210 questions from children representing 18…

This simulation allows students to learn about the struggle of daily life in Plymouth Colony. Students experience the hardships of life in the New World as they make decisions and face consequences as the Pilgrims did nearly 400 years ago. The unit is divided into nine phases with each phase taking approximately one hour of class time. Students…

This study examined teachers' use and evaluation of cooperative learning along with students' reactions to cooperative grouping and the quality of the group cooperation in a sample of Dutch primary school teachers who implemented cooperative learning methods. Data collection involved teacher questionnaires, student questionnaires, and observation.…

This report describes a program for improving students' oral and written communication in mathematics. The target population consisted of third and fourth grade classes in a suburban, middle class community located in a large Midwestern state. The current lack of communication was demonstrated by the results of class surveys, student interviews,…

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how collaborative problem solving affects individual mathematical problem-solving ability. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations were conducted, focusing on four students in the same fourth grade mathematics class in Taipei, Taiwan, as they participated in two steps of individual problem-solving…

In this interdisciplinary curriculum unit, students explore and debate the school uniform issue, considering legal and policy questions. Students are provided with background information, detailed instructions, on-line resources, and reflection questions. The teacher's notes describe the unit's purpose, its correlation to history/social science…

This annual serial volume offers readers glimpses into learning communities, demonstrating how students are brought together for the common purpose of learning. It gives a view of the teacher as learning guide and facilitator of group discussions and activities. The articles are a primer on how to build one's own learning community. The overriding…