This interview with a longtime experiential educator focuses on effective ways of implementing educational change in a school--by developing trust and communication in the school, working with the strengths of the teachers and principal, expecting improvement, and understanding that change is a slow evolutionary process. (SV)

The grade 6-7 class at St. Patrick's School in Hamilton (Ontario) engages in outdoor environmental projects to enhance classroom learning. Some student activities have been (1) worm composting; (2) tree planting; (3) restoring tern nesting areas; and (4) planning and cultivating a sophisticated garden on school grounds. (KS)

Describes problems associated with teaching a multigraded social studies class. Relates an apocryphal story about how one teacher used innovative practices in a multigraded class but aroused administrative ire. Questions whether scores on achievement tests are more important than critical-thinking and decision-making skills. (CFR)

Examining living organisms in one's own backyard is a key first step toward appreciating the scope and importance of biological diversity throughout the world. The goals of this lab are to involve students in exploring the biodiversity around them, appreciating its scope, and asking questions of new organisms that they may never have noticed…

Describes the development of a New Jersey adventure program for homeless teenagers. Discusses the developmental tasks of adolescence--separating from family, forging a healthy sexual identity, preparing for the future, and developing a moral value system--and the positive impacts of adventure on these tasks. Addresses the issue of closure and…

International Management Centres (IMC), an independent business school, and Anbar Electronic Intelligence (AEI), a database publisher, have created a virtual library for IMC's virtual business school. Topics discussed include action learning; IMC's partnership with AEI; the virtual university model; designing virtual library resources; and…

Describes InterLabs, a multidisciplinary computer laboratory developed at Bradley University (Illinois). Highlights include student leadership; experience-based learning; examples of work; a new curriculum called Social Informatics that addresses changes in society that follow technology changes; problems with administrative support and funding;…

Describes a pilot project at London Guildhall University Students Union (United Kingdom) that helps students acquire an understanding of independent learning through experiential learning facilitated by student mentors via a peer support dedicated intranet Web site. Discusses learning and study skills, technical constraints, and student…

At the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center in Providence, Rhode Island, a committee of educators and community members developed a new program and house plan that reinforces building relationships, doing group and individual projects, having individual space, and connecting to the world. Learning Through Internships activities are…

The most successful science-and-technology center exhibits owe as much to the evaluation of visitor reactions as they do to budgets and planning. Explores different types of visitor-evaluation studies and shares examples of successful exhibit designs built upon visitor evaluations, including children's physics exhibits and jellyfish as living art.…

Discusses the use of drama to engage students to become more interested and involved in French-as-a-Second-Language courses. Draws from practical experience with the use of drama in the classroom to formulate theoretical and practical uses of this approach to increase motivation and achievement. Uses examples to illustrate the arguments. (DSK)

A group of British graduate students in drama and movement therapy spent a weekend outdoors engaging in adventure, dramatic, and creative activities that focused on the symbolism of the Earth and increasing awareness of the self, the environment, and spirituality. (SV)

Reviews reasons for incorporating work-based learning (WBL) into higher education degrees and the barriers to achieving this. Notes five key dimensions of WBL. Describes and evaluates environmental audits undertaken in a graduate geography course at Lancaster University (England). Makes recommendations for maximizing the benefits of WBL in…

Explored the potential of the case method in teacher professional development. Experienced Israeli teachers were exposed to a case, and researchers characterized the resulting dialog. Teacher interviews indicated that teachers found the language of the case communicative. Teachers viewed this method as respectable and credible, though most did not…

Proposes a project to help teachers introduce service learning in the classroom. Gives a descriptive case analysis of one teacher's efforts to stress the importance of service, locally and globally, to her students. Argues that the main goal is for students to increase their personal development and civic responsibility. (DSK)