Knowing the facts is not enough. If we want students to develop intellectually, creatively problem-solve, and grapple with complexity, the key is in "conceptual understanding." A Concept-Based curriculum recaptures students' innate curiosity about the world and provides the thrilling feeling of engaging one's mind. This updated edition…

Early educators are in a bind. Teacher education programs are calling on them more and more to help students practice critical thinking and develop intellectual character (Ritchhart, 2002); yet school funding depends on meeting Common Core standards, which do not explicitly assess critical thinking until the high-school level (NEA.org). Add to…

This study aims to identify the contributions of teacher competency on teaching and learning for the subject of chemistry for the practical design, planning, and implementation to assessment of practical exercises in the science laboratory. The study used survey method with a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. The questions focused on…

In this piece, the authors offer two illustrations of central features of disciplinary literacy teaching. One illustration describes an episode of history literacy teaching, and the other describes an episode of physics literacy teaching. Both examples show how teachers may support students' development of disciplinary inquiry, disciplinary…

This article is about designing and implementing PowerPoint-based interactive simulations for use in International Relations (IR) introductory undergraduate classes based on core pedagogical literature, models of human skill acquisition, and previous research on simulations in IR teaching. We argue that simulations can be usefully employed at the…

Designing learning opportunities is an integral part of the work of all educators. However, educators often lack the design skills and knowledge that professional designers have. We thus need more empirical research on the "demand side": how do educators design technology-enhanced learning activities, and how do we provide them with…

Since database conceptual modeling is a complex cognitive activity, finding an appropriate pedagogy to deliver the topic to novice database designers is a challenge for Information Systems (IS) educators. The four-level TSSL model that is known in the area of human-computer interactions (HCI) is used to explain and demonstrate how instructional…

The "Framework for K-12 Science Education" (National Research Council, 2012) outlines eight practices to represent the diverse ways scientists construct and evaluate knowledge. Engaging students in these practices is a key instructional target in the science classroom. This target, however, creates particular challenges for online…

Board games have become one of the useful tools in teaching and learning. Many instructors and educators have chosen to use board games to enhance the way of delivering course contents. A board game will help students understand the education concept quickly and get involved in experiential learning, where students can manage and solve problems in…

This case study tells the story of Geneva Wilson, an African American teacher of British literature. The study positions the entirely White male curriculum and Geneva's Black female body as texts that embody oppositional dominant and nondominant Discourses. Findings reveal a contentious relationship between the categorical canonicity Geneva…

There is rising evidence that it is an increasingly difficult task for teachers to engage students in learning. This important problem in daily instruction has produced numerous research activities focusing on conditions and consequences of student engagement. However, these activities have led to a complex situation in which findings are widely…

In viewing the principles of Universal Instructional Design (UID), both inside and outside the classroom, a direct connection may be made to the principles of Ignatian pedagogy--a 500-year old tradition of education--in meeting the learning needs of today's college students, Generation Z. The Ignatian pedagogy as a frame for universal…

Difficulties in learning computer programming for novices is a subject of abundant scientific literature. These difficulties seem to be accentuated in students whose academic choice is not computation, like architecture students. However, they need to study programming, since it is part of the new academic curricula. The results presented here are…

Literature on online learning is replete with key factors needed for effective course delivery; however, the approaches and ideas that educators deem important do not always align with those of students. This study sought to compare actual online course design with student-indicated preferences. A survey instrument was administered to students…

This experimental study examined how the presence of visual diagrams in 2 science texts affected the independent reading comprehension of 213 fourth-grade students in the southeastern United States. In addition, the relative impact of 3 diagram designs and layout (representational, interpretational, or integrated) was compared with a control.…