Examines why a sixth-grade teacher in a Waldorf classroom selected the particular forms of representation for the lessons in a thematic unit. States that the teacher represented the lessons in ways that would bring about experiences, feelings, and imagination (such as story telling, visual arts, and singing.) (CMK)

Discusses ways in which faculty professional development can be altered in order to accommodate a changing economy, new technology, and an increasingly diverse student body at the community college. States that a quality faculty professional development program will build a world of faculty learners prepared to lead and guide the world of student…

A month-long residential program for adolescents in Michigan teaches arts and sciences through active learning workshops in an experiential, cooperative camp environment. Appreciation for diversity, supporting the developmental needs of adolescents, and building a sense of community are prime foci of the program. These are accomplished through…

Because new information-age learning models incorporate experiential education theories and practices, integration of information technology is an opportunity to integrate experiential methods. Scenarios are presented for integrating technology into experiential curricula. Problems include cost, training, lack of quality software, and…

Graduates of Sudbury Valley School (Framingham, Massachusetts) relate their learning experiences, including the positive relationships they developed with adults, their active role in school administration, the importance of play to their learning, the values they acquired as a result of their schooling, and how their experiences prepared them for…

Explains that an organic curriculum embraces a social studies curriculum that is supported by multidisciplinary social science methods and is grounded in the students' real-world experiences. Maintains that this organic social studies methodology is a means for implementing the thematic strands of the National Council for the Social Studies…

Examines the framework for library bibliographic instruction, analyzes current information literacy initiatives, and reviews efforts of the library at Rollins College (Florida) in promoting active learning and critical thinking skills through partnerships with classroom faculty and professionals of information technology and services, including…

This article presents a model of an effective unit of study in which music played a vital role. The unit of study was created and implemented in a New York City middle school, and students examined an African American community in the borough of Brooklyn. The unit enabled students to explore the history, heritage, and culture of a local community…

A significant body of research suggests that wide differences in concept and vocabulary knowledge exacerbate the achievement gap among students, especially in schools with large numbers of children of poverty. Educators sometimes attribute this difference to the Matthew effect: the sad reality that having a well-developed vocabulary allows a…

This paper describes how information and communication technology (ICT) is used in the modular Open University course "T209 Information and Communication Technologies: People and Interactions", first presented in 2002. In this course ICT is used to provide students with practical experience and to support an active and collaborative approach to…

The reform movement, with its bold and innovative approaches that focus on student-centered learning, has been able to uncover the richness in undergraduate mathematics. The most outstanding pedagogical practices take into account the environment in which learning occurs as well as the background of the student body. Mathematics educators should…

As teachers, an important part of planning curriculum is considering the relevance of what they teach their students. The author believes that project-based learning that integrates technology, language arts, and critical media literacy can be a powerful tool for learning. Not only does this kind of work connect students to the curriculum, it also…

Social scientists, particularly sociologists, seem to place great value in small classes and group projects, especially in teaching research methods. However, in the authors' department, the sophomore-level research methods class ranges from 70 to 105 students, which would result in 14 to 21 small groups for one instructor to supervise without a…

As noted by Goldsmid and Wilson a quarter of a century ago, a "curious gulf" exists between teaching and research in sociology. This article addresses this problem by suggesting ways in which a current research article from the American Sociological Review can be used in courses at three different levels of the undergraduate curriculum. The active…

This article discusses commonalities that exist between two popular educational approaches that provide options for a wide range of student achievement levels, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and the International Baccalaureate, especially the Primary Years Programme, in classroom practice. Introductions to the International Baccalaureate and…