Few research projects have captured the voices of childcare professionals about their personal beliefs in relation to teaching and learning. Using a qualitative case study approach with an emphasis on social constructivism, this descriptive study aimed to understand beliefs and practices as part of an underlying system, rather than as separate…

Students are responsible for their own knowledge construction in student-centered, constructivist-learning environments. To be successful, students need tools, or organizers, to help explore relationships, organize information, and think critically. This article discusses and provides examples of presearch, search, interpretation, communication,…

Comprehensive coverage of the theories and basic concepts of educational psychology is provided. Also included are information on how they can be applied in a variety of learning situations and concrete advice for planning, implementing, and improving instruction. The focus is on teacher education. The chapters are: (1) "Classrooms, Teachers,…

Replete with lessons for educators, this book reports in a personal way on a middle school classroom study undertaken by a teacher researcher that was to last 1 year but ended up lasting 6 years. The book contains the social and cultural forces that influence adolescents' literacy development--for instance, taking a hard look at the race and…

This book explains how to create a collaborative learning environment involving librarians, teachers, administrators, and all team players in K-12 education. Building on existing educational standards, the book features such proven tools as a ready-to-use framework for establishing a collaborative relationship, 40 discussion prompts to help…

This document contains the facilitator's guide for three of 12 professional development modules under development by the Applying Technology to Restructuring and Learning project. The modules are designed for professional developers and teachers interested in creating technology-assisted constructivist learning environments in K-12 classrooms.…

This handbook presents the anecdotes of exemplary facilitative teachers representing a broad range of grade levels and disciplines. Teachers share how their philosophical paradigms evolved; how these emerge in daily teaching practice; what happens intrinsically and extrinsically in their classroom learning environment; and how students benefit…

The question of how adult educators can make their teaching of adults more effective is explored in the context of recent work on adult lifelong learning. The following are among the topics discussed: (1) modes of adult education and the shift in focus from adult education to lifelong learning; (2) the contract between adult student and adult…

This book contains 16 papers on learner support in distance education in an international context. The following papers are included: "Constructivism or Confucianism? We Have the Technology, Now What Shall We Do With It?" (Louise Aylward); "Exploring Informal Study Groups in a South African Teacher Education Programme" (Carol…