At times, the whole-language approach to language teaching has been misunderstood. It is a philosophy more than a method or an instructional trend and is more than its separate elements: thematic, authentic, integrated, interactive. Many teachers who embrace the philosophy underlying the approach see their teaching not as promoting whole-language…

Describes an experiment that looked at how adult learners made use of their Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI[R]), a personality assessment tool, type to cope with the challenges of learning in an online environment. Presents results of the experiment, and draws tentative conclusions. Provides notes related to the four psychological dimensions of…

Discusses second language acquisition and the use of multimedia that allows learners to be actively engaged in the language learning process, based on experiences at an Australian university teaching Chinese to English and Japanese students. Considers the phonological level, the semantic level, the syntactic level, and the discourse level. (LRW)

Describes a study that was conducted to characterize the approaches to teaching of university lecturers and to examine the relationship between lecturers' approaches to teaching and their conceptions of good teaching. Highlights include a model relating beliefs, teaching and learning; motivational distinctions; accommodation for student…

Focuses on the question "What kind of learning processes are intended in the subjects 'Care' and 'Technology' in the Dutch common curriculum?" Demonstrates that Care and Technology are not 'practical' subjects in either the learning-domain dimension or in the learning-outcome dimension. Includes references. (CMK)

Focuses on defining constructivism, which includes learning as an active process of knowledge construction and instruction as a process of supporting that construction. Discusses 10 constructivist assumptions about learning. Describes 11 actions that define the constructivist teacher. (AEF)

Describes a project undertaken to create survey items that will identify the dominant learning stages of community college students. Utilizes the first three stages of Baxter-Magolda's (1992) four-stage model, focusing on ways of knowing likely to be found among students in the first half of undergraduate bachelor's degree programs. (VWC)

Discussion of the new Web-based instructional planning and management systems (also known as killer apps) that integrate all phases of the educational process focuses on three aspects: how to decide which system meets your needs; criteria to use in evaluating and comparing systems; and how to plan successful implementation. (LRW)

Describes one professor's journey of integrating technology into an undergraduate reading methods course. Finds that with the use of technology in her university courses, she is more responsive to her students, more reflective of the learning process taking place in her classroom, and able to support her students' learning in many ways. (SG)

Explains Web Crossing, an Internet/intranet server application offering online conferencing solutions through discussion forums and chat rooms, that provided a context for the interaction of graduate and undergraduate students conducting educational research. Discusses knowledge acquisition, the metaphor of participation, and the impact of a…

This interview with Nicholas Negroponte focuses on humans and technology, particularly the use of technology in education. Highlights include the effect of technology on society and culture; the role of technology; enhancing the learning process; interactive multimedia and the classroom; and improving education. (LRW)

Describes a qualitative study of a community college American history survey course using constructivist teaching, wherein all learning is filtered through the learner's lens of reality. Reports that one implication of the study was that applied constructivism may result in a more holistic approach to teaching and learning. (AUTH/NB)

Student affairs professionals are faced with the challenge of focusing on student learning. Through the implementation of a co-curricular activities program (CAP) model, described in this article, universities can develop a structured approach to programming that is based on students' developmental needs. This formalized co-curricular model…

Kids today are growing up with televisions, movies, videos and DVDs, so it's logical to assume that this type of media could be motivating and used to great effect in the classroom. But at what point should film and other visual media be used? Are there times in the inquiry process when showing a film or incorporating other visual media is more…

This chapter presents a brain-based model of adult learning and connects the model to practice.