Discusses use of field trips to enhance early childhood education. Suggests that children gain from group trips when the trip site is of interest to them, the children are prepared for the journey, and they can apply their experience upon return. Successful trips allow children to actively seek and find information, and to discern relationships…

Describes instructional strategies used in project-based introductory instructional design courses taught at Purdue and Florida State Universities. Discusses use of reflective summaries instead of quizzes, in-class demonstration of sample student projects, project-based application assignments, "mastery approach" (students revise and…

Two Nebraska teachers of grades 1 and 5 describe how their classes' joint Christmas project developed into an entrepreneurial experience. To raise money for toys for needy children, students applied for a bank loan, assembled bead kits for sale, and established costs and prices. The teachers took advantage of each new idea, turning "road blocks"…

Presents a catalog of active-learning techniques aimed at fostering student learning in the context of a lecture course. Activities range from listening practices to short writing exercises to complex group exercises. Barriers to implementing active learning, and some solutions, are explored and personal experience with the techniques are…

Describes an activity for primary students on bees. Demonstrates life in a beehive using students playing bees. Reports the effects of this activity on student learning. (YDS)

Research confirms that active learning techniques, like case studies, increase student participation and learning. This article provides an overview of case study methodology, discusses its appropriateness in library instruction, and presents two case studies used in a library instruction course at Murray State University (Murray, Kentucky).…

Discusses four issues that should guide the process of selecting technology for history and social studies classrooms: why use technology in these classrooms; what works best; what hazards should be avoided; and how the adoption and development of best practices can be encouraged and supported. Six recommendations for future efforts are presented.…

Presents an interview with Susan Krauss Whitbourne in which she discusses issues such as the challenge in teaching a course on the psychology of aging; types of assignments and active learning she uses in her course; resources she recommends; and how her research influences the adult development courses she has taught. (CMK)

Describes a methodology for supporting exploratory learning that attempts to limit learning space, called exploration space, and adequately control the cognitive load learners would face in their exploration process. In Exploration Space Control (ESC) the extent of exploration space is controlled according to domain complexity, but also to…

Introduces a cytology laboratory course consisting of experimental design, laboratory preparation, laboratory implementation, and scientific write-up. (Contains 11 references.) (YDS)

Examines libraries as postmodern institutions, identifies barriers to research imposed by library collections and services, considers how CD-ROMs magnify these barriers, and offers an instructional method using active teaching and learning methods known as critical pedagogy for bibliographic instruction in academic libraries. (Author/LRW)

Interview with Lilian Katz, one of the foremost authorities on the project approach to learning. Discusses the misconceptions and advantages of the project approach, the teacher's role in project-based work, and the qualities teachers need to insure its success. Gives historical background on the development of the approach, and some common…

Asserts that effective cooperative learning maximizes comprehension and teamwork skills by holding students individually accountable in their efforts to help the team. Describes the Peer and Self-Evaluation System (PSES), which provides students with confidential feedback regarding personal strengths and limitations. Contains 10 references. (VWC)

Reviews surveys concerning the attitudes of San Marcos (Texas) school children toward geography in 1983 and 1993. Shows that they generally ranked geography low on their list of favorite subjects; however, discerns statistically significant improvement in the popularity of geography over the decade, tentatively associated with more active learning…

Proposes that a game called Black Box is a useful tool for introducing various features of scientific reasoning to introductory research methods classes. Outlines the rules of the game and suggests analogies that instructors can make between the game and concepts commonly mentioned in discussions of scientific reasoning. (DSK)