As an alternative method of coaching education, with a focus on situated learning, mentoring has the potential to encourage "communities of practice," which are groups of people who share a common interest and engage in a process of collective learning that creates bonds between them. In addition, mentoring has the potential to overcome the…

We tested a theoretical model that hypothesized relationships between several variables from input, process and product in an educational setting, from the university student's perspective, using structural equation modeling. In order to carry out the analysis, we measured in sequential order the input (referring to students' personal…

Students in advanced psychopathology courses can learn key concepts by administering semistructured interviews designed to identify specific mental disorders. Such an active learning approach potentially can help students gain fundamental knowledge about psychopathology and begin to develop clinical and research skills. To explore the value of…

In two experiments, the authors tested the effect of two types of reading on the spelling memory of strange or sound-spelling inconsistent words in Dutch students with and without learning disabilities: standard reading and regularized reading. Standard reading refers to reading the word the way it has to be read. Regularized reading refers to…

Whether referring to psychologist Stanley Milgram's intriguing theory, John Guare's successful play and film, or Kevin Bacon's party game, six degrees of separation may also be used as a way to help students make visual connections. The six degrees of separation is the concept that everyone is connected to everyone else in the world by only six…

Black men have remained largely absent from the educational discourse on teachers and teaching. Even more important, their perspectives have not been fully considered in the debates over what constitutes culturally relevant classroom practice. In this article, portraits of the teaching lives of three Black men who worked as full-time teachers in…

In this article the author relates how the digital camera has altered the way she teaches and the way her students learn. She also emphasizes the importance for teachers to have software that can edit, print, and incorporate photos. She cites several instances in which a digital camera can be used: (1) PowerPoint presentations; (2) Open house; (3)…

As a result of advances in GIS, students from a range of disciplines (epidemiology, public health, medical sociology, and anthropology) are seeking to learn how to apply a mapped, spatial perspective to issues of disease and health. This paper describes a pilot program whose intent has been to develop an interdisciplinary, skill-based course in…

After more than a decade of funding from the "National Geographic Society," questions have increasingly been raised about the effectiveness of geographic alliances as vehicles for professional development in geographic education. This study explores the impact of participation in a summer institute on teacher beliefs and practices in…

This study investigated whether a reflective journal writing assignment would improve students' course performance. A total of 166 students from undergraduate sections of a course taught by the same instructor over three semesters completed the assignment as part of their requirements. Students (N = 317) from five previous semesters of the same…

The issue of student evaluations of faculty has been a source of debate in higher education for many years (Arden 2002; McKeachie 1979; Ory 2001; Trout 2000). Nevertheless, this author believes that student evaluations can be a valuable source of feedback for improving the quality of instruction. Therefore, she decided to initiate the practice of…

Research on the effect of suicide stories in the media on suicide in the real world has been marked by much debate and inconsistent findings. Recent narrative reviews have suggested that research based on nonfictional models is more apt to uncover imitative effects than research based on fictional models. There is, however, substantial variation…

Three National Board-Certified Teachers share modifications they used with preschool, elementary, and middle school students identified as difficult to teach. Each modification shared is presented in the reflective format required by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The modifications and descriptions are discussed in terms…

This article presents findings of our nationwide study of undergraduate special education student teaching practices. The authors were especially interested in grading systems, assignments, supervision practices, and unique challenges. Results indicated variability in grading systems, use of traditional assignments such as lesson plans, use of…

Research has shown that educational games can have positive impacts on student learning and motivation. The success of a game played in a library instruction class depends on the type of game selected, the development of learning outcomes, and the flexibility of the librarian during class. This article explains the benefits to students and…