Presents a geography program to show students why the European Community was formed. Involves student research of economic data, creation of a computer database on the European Community, and simulation of trading. Emphasizes geographic themes of movement, region formation, and change in response to economic forces. Includes game rules, sample…

Suggests instructional modifications that utilize liberal arts students interests and strengths to stimulate their interest in mathematics. Suggestions recommend that teachers (1) relate mathematics to current critical issues; (2) make use of projects and open-ended problems; (3) utilize collaborative learning; and (4) provide opportunities for…

Discussion of teaching complex knowledge domains through exploration highlights two experiments that investigated the educational value of a Dutch computer simulation program which models the relationship between erosion and agriculture in a developing country as part of the secondary school geography curriculum. Learning by doing versus learning…

Proposes the use of procedural task analysis as a tool to assess a person's mental processes during problem solving in science education research. Uses transcriptions of videotape or audiotape problem-solving sessions to identify students' knowledge structures and misconceptions. (MDH)

Presents 13 examples in which the intuitive approach to solve the problem is often misleading. Presents analysis of these problems for five different sources of misleading intuitive generators: lack of analysis, unbalanced perception, improper analogy, improper generalization, and misuse of symmetry. (MDH)

Reports an example of one lesson from a sequence of lessons on fractions from a sixth grade class in which the teacher revises her plans after observing students' small-group work and interactions. The lesson illustrated the teacher's knowledge of mathematics, how students think, and how to observe that thinking. (MDH)

Describes the computer project for American Indian middle school students, "Four Directions Indian Beadwork Design," that uses familiar American Indian beadwork designs to help learn geometric and LOGO concepts. Discusses the instructional techniques used to teach the planning and constructing of LOGO designs made up of two or more…

Describes the use of analogy relative to the classical theory of momentum and kinetic energy, and addresses the advantages and disadvantages of this approach with respect to modern physics. Discusses the origins of the billiard ball analogy in the work of Coriolis and its influence on later theories and investigations of nuclear fission, particle…

Overcoming obstacles to teacher research about their own educational practices requires the formation of intellectual communities of teacher-researchers or networks of teachers. An analytic framework is presented for interpreting and evaluating the work of such groups according to how they use time, talk, construct texts, and interpret teaching…

Suggests methods of teaching about the voyages of Columbus to develop students' knowledge and cognitive skills. Presents five keys to accuracy and balance in teaching about Columbus: emphasize biological and cultural exchange; apply the major geographic themes; examine events in their historical context; present multiple viewpoints; and use…

Describes the use of DIALOG and Classmate by students at McDowell High School (Texas). Requirements for accessing DIALOG are explained; methods of teaching using DIALOG are described, including planning search strategy and the use of small groups; and problems are reviewed, including supervision time, cost, and limited accessibility. (three…

Studies how an urban school, the George A. Lewis Middle School, of the Roxbury section of Boston (Massachusetts) is changing its reputation. Under the process of controlled choice, the school is an example of how teacher professionalization can be a force for overall school improvement. (SLD)

Responds to a college student's criticism of a professor's grading policies and teaching methods, considering political correctness and the meaning of grades. An underlying concern is the issue of the teacher's homosexuality. Argues that the student's letter is symptomatic of the college's attempt to suppress oppositional pedagogy. (SLD)

Describes Thinking Mathematics, a research-based approach to teaching mathematics. Value is placed on thinking and communicating mathematically and using what is known to find the unknown. The program requires teachers to rethink their beliefs and assumptions about teaching and learning mathematics. Examples of program implementation are given.…

Compares two groups of high school social studies teachers to determine how their attitudes and beliefs about instruction inform their practice in promoting higher order thinking among students. Measures teacher performance across 10 dimensions of classroom thoughtfulness based on Fred Newmann's work. Finds an important link between teachers'…