Notes that Montessori envisioned that the ideal environment for adolescents was "Erdkinder," or "children of the land." She believed that nature could provide a calming force for adolescents, and working the land with peers could prepare adolescents for real life. Describes the development of the Blackwood Land Laboratory,…

Our highly technological society requires that all students be empowered to use mathematics to defend their rights and see behind political control agendas. Situations (such as computer-modeling decisions) are often "mathematicized" to stifle those unable to construct their own mathematically based arguments. African-American students…

Indiana University's Teacher Education Laboratory replaces and supplements portions of the preservice program previously provided through field placements in area schools. This article describes the initial field test of a laboratory experience for secondary education majors. Surveys rating students' attitudes about the experience indicated…

A computer-based replacement for an electronics laboratory experiment was created and tested on second-year undergraduate students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southampton (England). Responses, assessed by questionnaire, showed that computer-assisted learning techniques provide a viable means for teaching…

Overviews philosophies related to the principles of adventure education and stresses the need to create a theory of adventure education in which concepts such as enchantment, happiness, awareness, and the mystical are central; the natural world is included; concepts are created that stay true to the essence of adventure education; and thought and…

Notes that throughout our educational and teaching experiences, we develop our own scripts, or the body of knowledge we call our own. Traces the script development of one educator, and concludes that becoming a teacher is a lifelong process. (JW)

Stresses the importance of experiential learning and reflection as bases of nature interpretation and environmental action. To promote effective nature interpretation by students, outdoor educators must develop skills in communication, dealing with the process of cumulative experiences, selecting evaluation criteria, examining meanings and…

This single-subject study compared the effectiveness of two intervention approaches, direct instruction and activity-based intervention, on acquisition and generalization of object names by six young children who were at risk or had developmental delays. Acquisition of object names was enhanced by use of highly structured didactic approaches to…

A forestry and agronomy course at Iowa State University incorporates problem-based team projects on real-world situations as a means of providing students with integrative and meaningful experiential learning. Student evaluations of these courses indicate that students recognize and appreciate the integrative nature of the problem-based team…

Study examined whether body fatness and weight control knowledge could be learned by students while they completed skinfold testing. Students received information on the subject in different manners while undergoing skinfold testing, then completed a knowledge test. Students who received instruction during measurement scored higher than control…

Discusses video teletraining as an alternative to traditional classroom education in terms of cost and program effectiveness; understanding the technology; support required to develop and deliver quality instruction; and the instructional design. (AEF)

As part of an experiential education program, students from Keuka College (New York) traveled to Costa Rica to participate in a service project and to learn about the country's political, socioeconomic, and ecological conditions. Pretrip preparation included studying experiential learning models that emphasized experience, reflection, abstract…

Reviews a book that suggests that customary educational practices are in direct conflict with principles of human learning and development. Suggests that experiential learning can correct deficiencies of traditional schooling by promoting genuine understanding and relevance for students. (LP)

Illustrates the common philosophical base of outdoor and experiential education and the Progressive Education Movement of the early 1900s. Commonalities include using the community outside the classroom while practicing student-centered, active learning. Modern research on brain-based learning supports many of the older principles of…

Sharing personal life stories can be a powerful tool to confront stereotypes and educate about social justice issues. Effective use includes having a clear educational goal, choosing a story that conveys an experience that is understandable and relates to the educational goal, and providing a safe environment for voluntary sharing of personal…