Describes a constructivist model of an online course being taught at the University of South Florida on science, technology, and society interaction (STS) and its relationship to science teaching. Accommodates varied approaches to learning and differing levels of prior knowledge and includes a virtual resource center with free access and embedded…

Examines primary teachers' confidence and identity as science teachers in tandem with their views on the British National Curriculum and the warrants they give for those views. Collects data using in-depth interviews with a small sample of primary teachers, setting their views in the context of their science-related life stories. (Contains 28…

Presents an activity on waves that addresses the state standards and benchmarks of Michigan. Demonstrates waves and studies wave's medium, motion, and frequency. The activity is designed to address different learning styles. (YDS)

A CD-ROM addressing learning styles, information technology, critical thinking, and study/learning skills was evaluated by 33 Royal Air Force personnel aged 24-48. Ease of use was hindered by lack of screen printing and bookmarking. Most found the learning experience satisfying and identified advantages, limitations, and aspects requiring…

This study examined the use of dynamic mediation procedures for assessing language modifiability of Spanish-speaking students with learning disabilities. Pre- and post-mediation measures included language scores and behavioral observations of language learning and modifiability during mediation. Results indicated significant improvement in…

Describes the ImpacT2 evaluation of students aged ten to 16 in the United Kingdom that uses image-based concept mapping to explore the impact of networked technologies on students' learning. Explains a method for interviewing young students and discusses implications for the way that information and communication technologies (ICT) are used in…

Petzoldt's "grasshopper" method of teaching was a systematic adaptation of opportunity teaching or using the teachable moment. An excellent example of effective experiential education, it presented small, manageable bites of information which were immediately relevant. His emphasis on the importance of judgment and decision making and the first 24…

Describes a study that analyzed how students in three different Swedish university programs conceived of the meaning of problem-based learning and how they experienced their studies within a problem-based learning program. Discusses learning in context, social interaction, meta-cognitive reasoning and self-directed learning, and academic cultures.…

Evaluated the effect of listening to stories on children's vocabulary growth. Children acquired new vocabulary from listening to stories, with both frequency of exposure and teacher explanation of target words enhancing vocabulary learning. The interventions, however, were not sufficient to overcome the Matthew effect, as higher ability children…

The task was to survey an area of a planet's surface to identify the presence of various geological features such as a trench, ridge, or basin. Students who received prior pictorial representations of features performed more accurately than students who did not, but there was no significant effect for including verbal statements about strategies…

Outlines reasons why electronic mail, and specifically e-mail exchanges, are valuable tools for promoting authentic target language interaction in the second language (L2) classroom. Research examining the use of e-mail exchanges on the L2 learning process is outlined, followed by one specific example of an e-mail exchange in a secondary core…

Within-class experimental designs are subject to diffusion effects whereby both experimental and control students benefit from the intervention, thereby contaminating the control group and biasing evaluations of intervention effects. In support of diffusion effects, this study showed that a classroom intervention resulted in higher academic…

Argues for innovation in teaching physics. Contends that the major premise of work in physics education is that educational innovations should be based on research into student learning, and that the effectiveness of an innovation should be evaluated by openly assessing what students have actually learned--a notion that is starling to those in…

Explicates aspects of dialogue theory that may enhance understanding of educational processes in general and interactive learning processes in particular. Bakhtin's extended theory of dialogue, the concept of multivoicedness and Lotman's dual functions of texts are explained and used to analyze a Web-mediated discussion among university students.…

Asks whether what is taught in science class only makes sense to someone who already understands science. Discusses school science in terms of four questions: (1) What is to be taught?; (2) What conditions promote learning?; (3) What do students learn?; and (4) What are the cognitive processes in learners' minds? (Contains 17 references.)…