This instructional design sought to create an easily graspable application of physics principles. It took an engineering slant on the content, asking students to investigate physics by attempting to increase the productivity of a "Splam-canning" plant. Design strategies are outlined for six science principles and eight product utilization…

Summarizes a discussion by the authors of this special issue that took place after the five instructional designers created lesson plans for the same design task. Highlights include the specified content's convergent effect on the designs; design philosophies; things that surprised the designers; and their favorable responses. (AEF)

Presents a model for building a concept-oriented computer simulation which involves five steps: (1) topic selection and resource gathering; (2) developing objectives and lesson activities; (3) selecting and formulating simulation factors; (4) program coding and debugging; and (5) developing student worksheets. Students act as tax advisors in the…

In educational environments, it is desirable to support the mechanism by which people can participate in interesting communities without any trouble and also to promote successful learning activities. Now that Web-based environments have been successively organized under a virtualized communication network or a logical interaction space, the…

Discusses the increased use of hands-on teaching activities that, while meant to engage students in learning, fail to teach them anything of importance. Explains why this trend started and why it is continuing to be used. Concluding comments provide questions teachers should ask during activity planning in order to make it an effective teaching…

A supplemental curriculum based on the philosophies of Karl Popper, John Eccles, and Jean Piaget in which the self is seen as actively constructing its own reality was developed. Examples of learning activities used with emotionally disturbed preadolescents and adolescents are offered as is information on goals/objectives, methodology, materials,…

This article uses a science learning activity to demonstrate how Key Stage 3 of the British National Curriculum in science can be made accessible to students with special educational needs. It explains 11 steps of instructional development that help in identifying differentiated learning objectives and allow for appropriate assessments. (DB)

Describes a pilot partnership formed by a science teacher and a science library media specialist between Detroit's Northwestern High School and the David Adamany Undergraduate Library at Wayne State University to develop student information literacy in high school. Discusses activities; teacher attitudes; introduction of the Big6 Skills; and…

Designed for preschool deaf/hearing impaired children whose developmental abilities range from 18 months through 5 years, this experiential curriculum uses a total communication approach in which language development is promoted in a natural setting. The guide is offered as a framework for teachers to use in developing their own individualized…

Considers the powerful influence of the motivational factors of attitude, need, stimulation, affect, competence, and reinforcement on adult behavior and learning. Their integration into the Time Continuum Model of Motivation to guide instructor selection and implementation of motivational strategies is also discussed. (MBR)

The Discetech project, which was started in 1996 in Northern Italy, aims at experimenting the introduction of new technologies within the teaching-learning activities of high school classrooms. Since 1998, a similar project, Bimbotech, has been developed for elementary classrooms (for children ages four- to seven-years old). Several hundreds of…

Presents a model curriculum for preservice teachers developed at the University of West Florida to prepare them for technology integration. Explains the combination of classroom experiences and field experiences and the use of the Lesson Architect, a tool in an electronic performance support system that teachers can use for instructional planning.…

This Practice Guide is the third in a series of Institute of Education Sciences (IES) guides in education. Much of teaching is about helping students master new knowledge and skills and then helping students not to forget what they have learned. The recommendations in this practice guide are intended to provide teachers with specific strategies…

This manual was developed in conjunction with the implementation of the Colorado Effective Education Model, a systems change project designed to develop best educational practices for students with severe disabilities in inclusive settings. The manual presents adaptations to better meet secondary level students' goals and objectives and describes…

After an examination of the status of the use of media in the foreign language curriculum, the potential impact of video and computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is analyzed, and their advantages and disadvantages are charted. The role of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines with respect…