A learning cycle lesson consists of three phases: concept exploration, concept introduction, and concept application. Describes the application of the learning cycle model to the design of inservice and preservice teacher education curriculum. (MDH)

Contends that instruction at the primary school level should be consistent with the child's development and experiences. Describes how geography's "Five Themes" can be taught using an interdisciplinary approach. Includes three lesson plans divided among concrete, semiconcrete, and abstract levels of cognitive development. (CFR)

Contends that history teachers should help students develop critical viewing and thinking skills about visual images. Discusses the emerging practice of blurring the lines between entertainment and information in television, films, and other visual presentations. Provides two sets of questions to help students analyze documentaries, television…

Contends that metaphorical thinking can help teachers and students construct new contexts for instruction and learning. Describes the use of metaphors as the basis for a preservice elementary social studies education course. (CFR)

Describes a high school world literature course taught by an instructor from a National Endowment for the Humanities teacher-scholar program studying Chinese literature. Contends that students should learn about Chinese philosophy and value systems if they are to understand Chinese literature. (CFR)

Reports on a procedure in which students read and evaluate each other's term papers. Contends that students improve their own writing and provide constructive, substantive feedback to their peers. Finds that the student reviews showed higher reliability than professional peer reviews of journal manuscripts. (CFR)

Describes the use of debate in teaching a college level course on the psychology of women. Contends that the technique encouraged critical thinking, active learning, and cooperation. Provides suggestions for replicating the process in other courses. (CFR)

Describes the use of the board game, Jeopardy, in a college level abnormal psychology course. Finds increased student interaction and improved application of information. Reports generally favorable student evaluation of the technique. (CFR)

Describes an instructional activity in which students collected and analyzed data from an urban environment. Explains that students developed an "urban attractiveness scale" and used it to rate different urban areas. Concludes that the exercise was effective as a learning activity. (CFR)

Describes an assessment strategy used by pharmacy faculty to grade student writing in a large-class, lecture-based course, outlining the steps the instructors took to recast an existing writing assignment so that it is carefully constructed and articulated, can be assessed quickly and consistently by multiple assessors (self, peer, instructor),…

A national survey of graduate-program chairs (n=28) and graduate students (n=131) in social and administrative sciences gathered information on research-methods courses and other curricular data, including core/required courses; subject area emphasis; where and how students gain knowledge in specific areas; importance of level of preparation in…

This study examined comprehension in four groups of undergraduates under text only, multimedia, and two diagram conditions of text supplementation. Results indicated that effects of text supplementation are mediated by prior knowledge and learning style: multimedia appears more beneficial to surface learners with little prior knowledge and makes…

This evaluative case study examines the learning experiences of graduate students studying effective multimedia authoring. Continuum-based instructional design, behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, collaboration, the role of a matrix, transfer of training, and qualitative and quantitative results are discussed. (LRW)

Describes two studies that assessed decision-making skills using common cognitive errors and evaluated the impact of computer-based role-playing exercises on the development of these skills. Results with high school students, undergraduates, and earth science professionals are discussed which indicate that well-designed computer-based laboratories…

Describes Project Performing Arts Teaching Resources Online (PATRON) that was designed at the University of Surrey (United Kingdom) to deliver digital audio, video, music scores and dance notation across a high speed network to the desktop. Conversion, scanned images, system components, user interface, and user reactions are discussed. (Author/LRW)