A cohort of middle school mathematics teachers in the U.S. participated in a two-year professional development program that focused on developing a deeper conceptual understanding of the mathematics of middle school with connections to instructional practice. We assessed the teachers' developing interpretive power, specifically developing…

This mixed-methods study used interviews and a questionnaire to investigate the perceptions of 304 teacher education students regarding the learning-related value of handouts accompanying teacher educators' computer-generated slide presentations. The extent to which graduate and undergraduate students differed in their perceptions was also…

This article briefly describes the central tenets of a program several low-income middle schools implemented to remove failure as a choice students could make in completing their assignments. Instead of doling out Fs for poor and nonexistent work, teachers devised a variety of options students had to follow to demonstrate eventual mastery of…

The teaching of highly valued scientific writing skills in the first year of university is challenging. This report describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a novel written assignment, "The Personal Response" and accompanying Peer Review, in the course, Human Biology (BIOL1015) at The University of Queensland. These assignments were…

Examines grading systems in undergraduate education at a large university, using data from a 12-month ethnographic study. Identifies how grades determine student movement from college to other organizations. Questions relationships of grading systems to students' perceptions of their own knowledge and grading's role in educational outcomes. Finds…

When the author was in fifth grade, she and the other students took a field trip to a nursing home; each child had to interview an elderly person. She discusses the impact of the assignment on her life to illustrate the effectiveness of field trips and interviews as teaching methods. (RM)

This paper examines the role of work in a psychology work/study curriculum at Antioch College (Ohio), and argues that the view of student's work that is described may represent a missed opportunity to help students learn. Students, through interviews and journal entries, provided their opinions regarding if and in what ways their classes…

Investigates how secondary history teachers' conceptions of history (typology) influences classroom practices. Interviews five teachers, representing five typologies, and their students, and observes classroom techniques. Suggests impact of teacher conceptions varies, finding only one of five typologies profoundly influencing students. Sees…

This study investigated the attitudes of students majoring in Studio Art concerning their education and their ability to find suitable employment after graduation. A qualitative study involving participant observation, a written survey completed by 22 respondents, and in-depth interviews with 6 informants revealed the following: (1) 41 percent of…