Explores how written text emerges from classrooms and wider socio-cultural contexts by examining writing in art, English, biology, sociology, history, and geography classes in a London secondary school. Asserts that writing is a mode of inquiry embracing a variety of language transactions as students make meaning of their world. (MM)

Examines three categories of forces believed to discourage or prevent faculty from adopting and applying educational technology, including incentives and disincentives; the need for faculty development; and an ingrained model of teaching that relies on the classroom lecture. Suggestions for avoiding or minimizing associated resistance are…

Describes a study to determine if the personality traits of students in televised college-level courses differ from those of students in traditional courses, and to identify the specific traits predictive of successful performance in televised classes. Results showed that telecourse students do have a unique profile and traits for success. (LRW)

Many assert that the use of animals for dissections in the secondary and undergraduate class is unnecessary. This article describes a study conducted to compare the attitudes and achievement of students who use interactive methods instead of conventional dissection. (ZWH)

After 18 years of using a traditional approach to teaching, a middle-school teacher turned her classroom into a shared learning experience by giving students the responsibility to make choices about their education. To reassure parents who were skeptical of the Foxfire approach, she continued to interject traditional learning activities. (LP)

Describes how World Wide Web delivered visual explanations of programming constructs have been used to supplement conventional instructional methods and materials traditionally employed introductory programming courses. Explanations are constructed using inexpensive commercial software that supports the use of animation, graphics, color, and…

Describes a study at the State University of New York, University at Albany that compared a Web-based library instructional module for first-year students with traditional library instruction. The effectiveness of the two instructional methods was compared using pre- and post-tests, and was found to be equal. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/LRW)

Highlights studies confirming earlier research that telecourses are as effective as face-to-face instruction. Notes studies that show no statistically significant difference between the two modes of instruction; gaps in research studies; comparative studies; and use of simulation studies. (AEF)

Describes how a faculty member can develop a Web site to enhance a traditional lecture course, based on experiences of a professor teaching Biology at the University of Colorado. Examines advantages and disadvantages of the Web, and provides a 14-item "to do" list for the teacher. Discusses student survey comments about the Web use and…

Investigates 5th and 6th grade students' learning when taught with the aid of dome and computer planetaria. Finds both planetaria equally effective with female pupils. Recommends the use of planetaria, which might enable females to catch up with males in areas that place heavy demands on spatial ability such as astronomy. (Contains 16 references.)…

Examines the evolution of open distance learning (ODL) in the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to traditional universities and to recent developments in telematics. Argues that a major test of the new technologies in distance education will be their capacity to support real academic communities, allowing the university to maintain the best…

Traditional and "progressive" methods of teaching mathematics were compared using high school students from two schools in England. Students at the traditional school (approximately 200 students) developed an inert knowledge they did not find useful in the real world. Those taught by more progressive methods (approximately 100 students)…

Discusses results of the evaluation of an educational teleconferencing system in a Mexican university. Highlights include student expectations; student perceptions of efficacy for self-regulated learning; student perceptions of the course; differences from traditional courses; and the importance of considering student variables in evaluations of…

The effectiveness of simulations for teaching statistical concepts was compared to the effectiveness of a textbook. Subjects were 115 college students. Subjects trained by simulation performed significantly better than those trained with a textbook. Results support the increasing use of simulation in education and training. (AEF)

Compares the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and conventional instruction (CI) for teaching a developmental education mathematics course to African-American college students. Results revealed statistically significant difference on the algebra posttest. Students in the CAI section had significantly higher attitudes toward…