This study explores the application of Vygotsky's zone of proximal development in pre-service teacher training by investigating the effectiveness of ZPTD in lesson plan design. A qualitative research approach has been utilized to gather and analyze both versions of a lesson plan designed by a pre-service teacher (the researcher). The revised…

Differentiating instruction can be difficult, however, when higher performing students yearn to be stretched and lower performing students benefit from scaffolded support. One way to meet these students' learning needs and everyone in-between is to embrace the notion of novel exploration in support of critical school mathematics concepts. Novelty…

This article discusses how the key players' multilayered collaboration may be enacted by the Change Laboratory methodology in the footsteps of Virkkunen and Newnham (2013) to address a complex issue for the benefit of adolescents. It can be defined as a group processing approach used by a group to solve a problem of its own defining. Over six…

This submission contains the Proceedings of the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG), held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. The CMESG is a group of mathematicians and mathematics educators who meet annually to discuss mathematics education issues at all levels of learning. The aims of the…

This article presents the authors' critique of lessons proposed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The authors initiate a discussion about content that they hope will play out in schoolhouses and statehouses across the country. They take on a different task: they present a handful of lesson ideas from P21 that could enhance studies…

This book is an updated and enhanced version of a breakthrough resource originally entitled "Springboards to Technology." It shows how technology can be presented in every elementary school classroom, with the aim of linking all curriculum areas in a natural and cohesive manner. The design and technology activities in this book serve as…

A Technowalk is a walk through the community to explore the technology found there, looking for common materials or particular kinds of structures. Technowalks involve the investigating, designing, testing, trouble-shooting, and problem-solving that the technological process provides. This book provides suggestions for 10 Technowalk activities for…

Presents a two-day lesson from the Alberta (Canada) Education Curriculum for upper elementary or middle school students designed to explore ethical decisions when confronted with value conflicts. Outlines goals, materials, and procedures. Indicates instructional objectives are analysis of conflicts in terms of moral and ethical values; and…

This teacher resource manual focuses on the Alberta, Canada social studies curriculum for grades one through three. The manual has five main sections. (1) "Introduction to the Program" discusses the program goals and objectives. The importance of problem solving and decision making skills are stressed, and strategies are discussed for…

This book promotes an integrated curriculum to assist students in grades 6-9 in seeing the links between different subject areas and in a larger context, the direct relevance of what they are learning in school to their needs later in life. The book uses a problem-solving approach that is "technological" in nature: the book provides…

Technology's impact on society is growing everyday. The need to include technology education as core material for all students has been recognized by educators around the world. This book is a practical guide to using the problem-solving approaches integral to the design process in order to integrate technology education into all subject areas for…

This set of publications, consisting of a student workbook and teacher's manual, is designed for use by adult learners registered in the intermediate level of the career planning course of the Ontario (Canada) Basic Skills program. The student workbook contains units on the following topics: introduction to career planning, self-assessment for…

The Integrated Occupation Mathematics 26 Program is an optional program designed to allow students in Alberta, Canada to meet the credit requirements of the Certificate of Achievement and facilitate transfer to the General High School Diploma Program. This Teacher Resource Manual is provided to assist classroom teachers to implement the…

The Integrated Occupation Science 26 Program is an optional program designed to allow students in Alberta, Canada to meet the credit requirements of the Certificate of Achievement and facilitate transfer to the General High School Diploma Program. This Teacher Resource Manual is provided to assist classroom teachers to implement the Science 26…