This book is developed to make the teaching and learning of history a powerful and enjoyable experience in the classroom through the study of historical mysteries. What better place to snoop around and dig through mysterious graves than in history class? This book takes ten mysterious events in history from ancient Egypt to the 21st century for…

Argues that the absence of a relationship between doing science and the teaching of science is the problem behind schools' failure to improve the quality of instruction or the quantity of interest. That dissociation is attributed to fundamental working assumptions and the structures deriving from them that have dominated education in this century.…

Describes how adult students in Great Britain mobilized research, learning, and action in a campaign to protest building closures and funding cuts. (SK)

Research shows that for effective learning to occur, children must be actively involved. They need space to work with a wide variety of materials, share ideas, and present their findings. Architects are working to produce designs featuring large common areas or large complexes devoted to specific interests. Working in an open environment…

Debunks five misconceptions about improving creative thinking. To encourage students to think creatively, instructional techniques should reflect an integrated set of mental skills, use materials mimicking real-life situations, consider students' beliefs and tendencies toward creative thinking, show metacognitive sensibility, and foster a creative…

Describes a strategy for improving the quality of class discussions. States two reasons why class discussions can be unsatisfying: (1) individual contributions are emphasized more than the merits of collective discussion; and (2) discussion performance is emphasized over development of discussion skills. Describes a student exercise to overcome…

Used a structural modeling approach to evaluate relations among attitudes, initial skills, and performance in a Quantitative Methods course that involved students in active learning. Results largely confirmed hypotheses offering support for educational reform efforts that propose actively involving students in the learning process, especially in…

Describes a few activities and strategies that may be used to actively engage students in their learning. (YDS)

An integrative approach views professional development for adult educators as learner centered and transformative; it should address motivation and technology. A new vision of professional development reconceptualizes the process to include understanding of contexts, active learning, reflection, and dialogue. (SK)

Incorporates history and genetics to explain how genetic traits are passed on to the next generation by focusing on methemoglobinemia, a rare genetic disease, and discusses how oxygen is carried by hemoglobin. Includes individual pedigree analysis and class pedigree analysis. (YDS)

Shares a sampling of the core educational principles of the late French educator Celestin Freinet, who emphasized active learning in a democratic setting in order for the democratic way of life to survive and flourish. Discusses respect for the child's integrity, bringing real life into the curriculum, motivation through meaningful work, and…

In groups, 49 accounting students completed a 5-week analysis of audit reporting issues using cooperative learning. Positive student reactions and achievement suggested that contemporary active learning approaches are compatible with the traditional accounting goal of preparing for the Certified Public Accountants examination. (SK)

Examines the effects of a two-step practice-poster session on first-year doctoral students' self-efficacy beliefs about making professional presentations, and evaluates the usefulness of an active-learning teaching assignment. Results suggest that the relatively brief training exercise significantly increased participants' self-efficacy to give…

Focuses on ways of using satellite imagery obtained from the Internet, to enhance classroom learning. Discusses satellite deployment; classroom applications, including infrared imagery, high-resolution photography, and global positioning satellites; and use of satellite data for hands-on activities, including cartography, city and community…

Reports on students' preexisting knowledge and examines misconceptions among nonscience major undergraduate students. Focuses on evaluating results of misconceptions in selected astronomy courses. (YDS)