To incorporate active learning and cooperative teamwork in statistics classroom, this article introduces a creative three-dimensional educational tool and an in-class activity designed for introducing the topic of agglomerative hierarchical clustering. The educational tool consists of a simple bulletin board and color pushpins (it can also be…

This article presents the Blended Learning Virtual Reality Inquiry Framework, an original framework for creating virtual reality inquiry-based lessons for the modern technology-driven classroom. The framework shared in this article invokes research on blended learning , experiential learning, and inquiry-based learning to structure a virtual…

Underrepresentation is endemic across disciplines and across time (National Science Foundation 2019), and extensive research clearly shows that this reflects bias and a lack of access, not a lack of ability in students from those underrepresented groups (National Research Council 2012). Systemic injustice is present in the teaching (Moss-Racusin…

We present an active-learning strategy for undergraduates that applies Bayesian analysis to candy-covered chocolate m&m's®. The exercise is best suited for small class sizes and tutorial settings, after students have been introduced to the concepts of Bayesian statistics. The exercise takes advantage of the nonuniform distribution of…

One of the most important roles of a teacher is to create a safe space for learners, consistent with the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) Universal Design for Learning guidelines (CAST 2011). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for teaching and learning, based on neuroscience research, that guides teachers to eliminate…

Planning a lesson that sets all students up to learn successfully involves making a great many decisions about what to do throughout the lesson. To make this planning less overwhelming, the author focuses on a part of lesson planning that doesn't always get much attention: the first 10 to 15 minutes of a lesson. He walks readers through key…

Assessment is not something that stands alone and teachers need support to develop their understanding of both assessment practices and the subject being assessed. Teachers at Shaw Primary School were fortunate to take part in the Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) project and, in this article, the outlines how science and assessment can…

Teachers take seriously that "teaching is a deeply human enterprise," yet they can be candidates of worry about standards (or, perhaps more accurately, standardized tests) and where it's taking them in terms of curriculum design. If in their planning they crank out lessons solely focused on goals that young people don't care much about,…

"We might view the movement from teacher-directed to student-driven learning as a set of controls, much like the controls on an audio sound board," write Bena Kallick and Allison Zmuda. For each element of personalization, the teacher can turn the volume up or down, amplifying or reducing the amount of student agency depending on the…

Elementary teachers often avoid the struggle of matching a science activity to a specific standard by using a lesson planning process known as Understanding by Design (UBD) (Wiggins and McTighe 2005). A main tenet of the UBD model involves starting at the end rather than at the beginning of the planning process. By starting at the end and visiting…

As states adopt more rigorous academic standards, schools must define how special education fits into standards-aligned curricula, instruction, and assessment. Utilizing PLC practices, general and special educators must develop collaborative partnerships in order to close the achievement gap and maximize learning for all. The authors encourage…

This paper navigates into the "YouTube" website as one of the most usable online tools to learn languages these days. The paper focuses on two issues in creating "YouTube" language learning videos: pedagogy and technology. After observing the existing "YouTube" LLVs, the study presents a novel rubric that is directed…

Young children's capabilities continue to be revealed through brain and other scientific research. These advances in knowledge have led to the implementation of more progressive learning experiences in preschool programs. More in-depth explorations accommodate young children's intellect and they help children develop life skills as competent…

"Lesson study" is a professional learning approach in which teachers work together to: formulate goals for student learning and long-term development; collaboratively plan a "research lesson" designed to bring to life these goals; conduct the lesson in a classroom, with one team member teaching and others gathering evidence on…

Unit planning is perhaps the most difficult of the teacher duties to execute well. This paper offers suggestions for improving focus and increasing the meaningfulness of thematic unit content for students. Stressing the concept of a Big Understanding, it outlines 6 sequential steps in the creation of units which, when applied, not only establish a…