Service Learning is a modern teaching-learning concept, which combines curricular content with supporting charitable organizations. The effects of courses using this concept on the students' competences development has already been described in empirical studies. Within these studies the aspects regarding the instructional design were less…

Growing financial concerns among college students and on college campuses suggests urgency in teaching personal finance more effectively. Active learning approaches to teaching, including the use of case studies, problem-based learning, group work, in-class writing, demonstrations, and so forth, may be more appropriate and useful when used to…

The use of modeling projects serves to integrate, reinforce, and extend student knowledge. Here we present two projects related to tumor growth appropriate for a first course in differential equations. They illustrate the use of problem-based learning to reinforce and extend course content via a writing or research experience. Here we discuss…

In this paper, we examine the role of the instructor during student-centered approaches, specifically those that are problem-centered, to outline effective strategies that are valuable for facilitating discussions. After describing the role of the instructor in each phase of implementation, from planning to evaluation, we discuss specific…

Argumentation is central to instruction centered on socio-scientific issues (Sadler & Donnelly in "International Journal of Science Education," 28(12), 1463-1488, 2006. doi: 10.1080/09500690600708717). Teachers can play a big role in helping students engage in argumentation and solve authentic scientific problems. To do so, they need…

Creative and critical thinking skills are the abilities, which can sometimes be used interchangeably in definition. In fact, they have different constructs because they differentiate in outcome of human behaviours. Also one of today's requirements is that individuals should approach everyday problems by using both competences. So, one of the…

Vocabulary is at the surface level of language usage; thus, students need to develop mathematical and scientific vocabulary to be able to explicitly communicate their mathematical and scientific reasoning with others. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have both created…

Advancements in technology and liberalization of educational opportunities have transformed the knowledge landscape into an emergent innovation incubator, where sense-making and creativity in and for ill-structured environments are especially relevant. In addition, opportunities are often "found" or "made." The quality of…

The technology works as a catalyst through which many changes occur in the learning approaches, teaching methodologies, research arena, in the work environment and in the use of information and knowledge. Helping students to learn using technological tools rather than using conventional techniques has become more popular in the 21st century in…

Objective: To systematically review current literature to determine whether active learning is more successful than passive learning at producing cognitive skills in health care professions students. Data Sources: An electronic search was conducted in 4 databases: EBSCO-CINAHL, EBSCO-Sport Discus, Educational Resources Information Center, and…

Since the 1960s, there has been growing and sustained interest in small-group learning approaches at the school level and in higher education. A voluminous body of literature in this area addresses theory, research, classroom practice, and faculty development. The approaches most highly represented in the literature are cooperative learning,…

This study examined an instruction method for the improvement of information processing abilities in elementary school students. Current elementary students are required to develop information processing abilities to create new knowledge for this digital age. There is, however, a shortage of instruction strategies for these information processing…

Inclusion is meant to address the needs of all students in the classroom including those who are identified as gifted and talented. Unfortunately, this population is often excluded from funding and differentiated support. This chapter addresses the disparities of definitions and legislation for gifted students. Common characteristics including…

This study explored the use of scaffolded lesson study to develop professional teaching knowledge for problem-based historical inquiry (PBHI). Using mixed methods including extensive classroom observations, the study examined six 4th grade social studies teachers' adoption of problem-based historical inquiry in their classroom teaching following…

Although elaboration has been investigated frequently, there is little evidence for the beneficial effect of elaboration in problem-based learning. A controlled experiment tested the effect of elaboration during problem-based discussion on recall. Sixty-seven students observed a video-recorded, problem-based discussion. In one experimental…