A microcomputer simulation prepared for use within a masters' degree program in special education was examined with three research concerns in mind: (1) whether teachers would perceive the simulation as a viable simulation of classroom reality; (2) whether teachers using the simulation would interpret simulation descriptions similarly, or, if…

Explores value areas in which wilderness experiences can provide youth with a counterbalance to technology's narrow categorization of what we should strive to be: our concept of intelligence, an "I need vs. I want" lifestyle, spectator vs. participant, and insulation from perceived risks. (NEC)

A career internship program developed at Kalamazoo College is described that combines career development and experiential learning in a liberal arts curriculum. It has had significant positive results in graduates' career and educational success. (MSE)

Case study results of a cooperative education program are presented. Conclusions drawn from this study indicate student expectations and perceptions of the co-op experience are critical to the experiential learning process. The program design seems more appropriate for substantiating academic credit than for assuring student learning. (DWH)

A theoretical model of an effective experiential educational program for training evaluators is described. Two operating programs are assessed against the requirements of the model. The results of a quasi-experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs in producing important educational outcomes are reported. (Author/PN)

Describes an outdoor adventure camp to help mental health consumers and nursing students explore the issues of mental health and illness through experiential and perceived risk challenges. Evaluation data reveals a breakdown in the stigma of mental illness as consumers and students came to know, trust, and count on each other in order to succeed…

This introduction to a special issue reviews the community service movement in the 1960s-70s, current calls for youth involvement in community service, and the semantic differences related to the term "service learning." (SK)

A study assessed the effectiveness of garden-enhanced nutrition education programs in improving nutrition knowledge and dietary patterns of 97 first-grade students at 2 California schools. Students who grew vegetables in their school gardens were more willing to taste certain vegetables, an essential step in improving a child's food preferences.…

Offers reminders and tips for improving interpretive walks, including having a theme, drawing on basic teaching methods, drawing on all senses rather than just talking, being a role model to show how learning can be fun, using picture books, using tools of the trade to encourage visitors to learn for themselves, and playing games. (PVD)

In this article we describe an instance of free-choice learning in the context of an eelgrass mapping and stewardship project (the "Project") that covers over 500 kilometers of coastline in British Columbia, Canada, and involves 20 volunteer groups. In this ethnographic case study we sought to (a) explicate the relationship between…

Many adults today consider the hours after school to be an opportunity for students to squeeze in a little more help with schoolwork. For most children, though, that final bell rings freedom. The last thing they want is more school, and faced with an after-school program that looks like an extension of their school day, they'll opt out.…

Describes the attempts by one faculty member to assess the impact of service learning on student learning in a motor development class. Concludes that service learning has powerful effects on student engagement, but that faculty have to find new ways to properly assess those outcomes. (Contains 16 references.) (CAK)

This article presents the results of a three-year study of "Gamestar Mechanic" (www.gamestarmechanic.com), a flash-based multiplayer online role-playing game developed for the MacArthur Foundation's digital media learning initiative by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Gamelab in New York. The game's objective is to help children…

Increasing diversity and linguistics complexity in classrooms is occurring in schools throughout the world. Bilingual teachers need to develop knowledge and skills to succees in teaching diverse students. Demographic shifts are bringing increasing numbers of international students from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, class, and linguistic…

At Indiana State University, students confront civic realities through experiences provided within the Liberal Learning in Action classes. This program empowers students to make connections between community issues and the tools of "liberal learning," including critical analysis, appreciation of diversity and a strengthened ability to…