Examines the critical role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Swedish early childhood classrooms. Suggests that for children to become skillful users of ICT, equipment and a variety of software must be readily available, and teachers must develop their expertise with technology in order to use it effectively and creatively in…

A study examining teaching and learning strategies in Maori-medium elementary classrooms observed and interviewed 13 effective teachers. These teachers created culturally appropriate environments; used nonconfrontational behavior management; matched strategies and materials to children's prior knowledge, experience, and abilities; used…

Reports on the development of a comprehensive education program "Step by Step: A Program for Children and Families" in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. Designed for young children from birth to age eight and their families, this program attempts to share U.S. teaching methods that promote democratic principles…

Reports on a project in the United Kingdom identifying strategies to manage classroom discourse in ways designed to give words and their meanings particular kinds of attention in order to foster vocabulary development in children studying English as an additional language. Notes that in this project, target word-meanings related to learning…

Explores and identifies scaffolding (adults helping children learn inaccessible material) strategies in three specific primary schooling contexts: design and technology, mathematics, and science. Delineates the differences among scaffolding, everyday knowledge, and specialist knowledge. (MJP)

Examines how a Canadian beginning teacher-educator transformed his knowledge about teaching in order to assist student teachers to become effective mathematic teachers. Describes how his teaching practice evolved over a three-year period and the strategies he used to structure his course to involve student teachers in constructing their own…

Argues that the inclusion of ethnic folktales into a social studies unit can reinforce stereotypical assumptions unless it is balanced with accurate and insightful social and cultural instruction. Summarizes and discusses a number of Latino folktales and how they could be used as springboards for appropriate instruction. (MJP)

Provides a thorough introduction to the origin, ideas, and current state-of-the-art of discipline-based music education (DBME). DBME expands music education beyond performance to include aesthetics, history, and criticism. Discusses the music specialist's role in this process, gives guidelines for implementation, and includes a list of resources.…

Describes the process of problem-based learning (PBL), discusses the history of the movement, and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of PBL. Explains the advantages of PBL in developing desirable attributes in biochemistry graduates which include being able to generalize, being able to interpret data, and possessing knowledge of relevant…

Reviews Betty Edwards' self-instruction book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain," and discusses the motivational techniques used in that work. Argues that these techniques, designed to build student self-confidence, explain the book's popularity and provide instructive examples for other art teachers. (MJP)

Examines the relationship between handwriting and early drawing. Maintains that often the quality of line in drawing becomes more reserved as the acquisition of the skill of writing-as-script becomes more fluid and automatic. Includes exercises that illustrate this process and use handwriting to explore creativity. (MJP)

Describes how the job characteristics model (J. R. Hackman), used by industrial-organizational psychologists to enhance the motivating potential of jobs in industry, can be applied to increase student motivation. The job characteristics model describes the relationship between the core characteristics of skill variety, task identity, task…

Describes the Scaffolding Reading Experience, a technique that helps students deal with challenging expository texts and supports social science inquiry methods. This technique relies on various supporting activities during the prereading, during-reading, and postreading phases. Outlines a series of these activities used during a U.S. history…

A survey of 2,071 first-year students in university distance-education programs found the two most common learning strategies were repetitive reading of course materials and summarization of facts. Wide variation in strategies was found, apparently determined by both learner characteristics and nature and design of instructional materials,…

In a University of Central Lancashire (England) program, upperclassmen support learning of peers through small-group peer tutoring in study skills, earning academic credits for doing so. The program targets courses with difficult content, predominance of lectures, and low rates of teacher-student interaction. Evaluation indicates reduced course…