Discusses problems that educators face in attempting to emphasize high-level cognitive skills in their curriculum. Identifies four elements of informal learning that guide the creation of these skills, through a comparison of the characteristics of formal and informal learning environments. Notes benefits for development of students' conceptual…

Teachers at Fort Wayne (Indiana) Community School are groundbreakers in "looping," a practice involving multiyear teaching assignments and no historical antecedent. Experienced loopers participating in an evaluation study reported that looping was great for students (especially at-risk kids) and hard on teachers; fostered a family…

Staying in the distance learning business requires keeping the faculty who teach the courses satisfied. There are three keys for recruiting and retaining expert faculty in distance learning programs: reassurance, respect, and reward. Each of these is discussed in detail. (AEF)

A study involving seven early childhood and special education teachers found they tended to use the naturalistic intervention strategy, embedding, in a limited capacity. They embedded objectives by asking questions and providing verbal models and used embedding most when they were one-on-one and engaged in language programming and pre-academic…

Discusses findings of the U.S. Congress' Web-Based Education Commission that examined how the Internet is being used to enhance learning opportunities for students. Addresses each of the seven areas in which the Commission suggested there is a strong need for action: broadband access; professional development; research and development; quality of…

Provides comments and ways to address some issues that affect new faculty in undergraduate psychology departments who have doctorates in license-eligible applied specialties. Suggests that issues of licensure requirements, and how they may be met, must be included in the hiring negotiations of new faculty members. (CMK)

Describes different types of assessment and addresses both short- and long-term learning targets in music education. Provides suggestions for measurement and evaluating students' musical performances. Considers the purpose of assessment in music education. Includes a glossary of assessment terms, guidelines, and resources. (CMK)

A review of the literature on multiple intelligences is presented, the different types of intelligences are described, and the impact of the theory on identification, instruction, and evaluation is examined. The benefits as well as cautions in the use of the multiple intelligences approach with gifted students are also discussed. (Contains…

A survey of 565 teachers in 96 Saskatchewan school districts examined teacher attitudes and beliefs about teacher collaboration, the nature of interprofessional relationships in schools, teacher and student diversity, and teachers' time usage. Teachers also reported the extent to which their beliefs matched actual school conditions and the…

Provides an examination of the Swiss-German music books in the Luther Whiting Mason-Osbourne McConathy Collection. Based on research undertaken to learn about music education in nineteenth century Switzerland and its influence on U.S. music education. (CMK)

Considers the reactions of children to natural disasters and discusses the use of natural disasters in the social studies curriculum. Provides a list of online resources that may assist elementary school teachers in educating their students about natural disasters. (CMK)

Provides a conception of critical thinking and the critical thinker, who is characterized by five intellectual resources: background knowledge, operational knowledge of good thinking, knowledge of critical concepts, effective heuristics, and habits of mind. Explains, with examples, each intellectual resource. Discusses the task of teaching…

Describes Lawton (Michigan) Elementary School's "Road to Success" program, which emerged from concern for students' knowledge of civics and ability to participate as effective citizens. Explains that an important aspect of the program is its focus on Core Democratic Values. (CMK)

Considers, within the multicultural context, the extent to which the elements of "story" are present in the classroom curriculum and how the "telling" momentarily preempts the possibility of all but a single interpretation. The author reconsiders content sources and the blind adherence to these sources which can bias learning…

The Lawrence Township (Indianapolis, Indiana) school district has shifted from a traditional approach to programming for gifted and talented students to a talent development approach, creating a K-12 Talent Recognition and Development Program (TRAD). The program focuses on four talent areas: academic, visual/performing arts, technical/vocational,…