Contends that the best way to learn about citizenship is by discussing real societal issues that are connected to student interests. Maintains that a democratic classroom environment also provides an opportunity for practicing civic values. Provides four guidelines for establishing community service projects in the schools. (CFR)

Asserts that history often is listed by students as their least favorite subject. Contends that teachers should use materials and teaching methods that engage student's imagination and critical thinking skills. Provides an annotated bibliography of instructional materials including multimedia resources, compilations of lesson plans, and teacher…

Contends that criticism of progressive pedagogical methods may be creating an ideologically neutral orthodoxy of primary school practice in Great Britain. Expresses caution about this development by defending principles underlying progressive education. Argues for the development of child-centered teaching methods within the National Curriculum.…

Presents a student activity designed to reduce ethnocentrism and promote cross-cultural understanding. Describes two stages of the project: (1) individually attending a church of the student's own religion or denomination but of a different race; and (2) attending an African American fundamentalist Baptist service as a group. (CFR)

Describes the use of debate in teaching a college level course on the psychology of women. Contends that the technique encouraged critical thinking, active learning, and cooperation. Provides suggestions for replicating the process in other courses. (CFR)

Describes an instructional activity in which students collected and analyzed data from an urban environment. Explains that students developed an "urban attractiveness scale" and used it to rate different urban areas. Concludes that the exercise was effective as a learning activity. (CFR)

Reviews and interprets evidence that demonstrates underachievement in working class children. Argues that any success with improving effectiveness of these students is determined by classroom teachers. Concludes that continuous efforts must be made to reduce the gap between everyday experience and classroom experience. (CFR)

Contends that music education for adult learners is an important educational trend. Discusses the special needs and concerns of adult learners. Recommends approaches to setting up adult music learning centers. (CFR)

Profiles a number of working partnerships between schools and community organizations that involve service learning. The various projects include neighborhood mapping, study of local ecology, environmental testing, recording local ethnographies, and letter-writing campaigns. Includes a list of helpful hints for starting a school community…

Outlines six steps for creating meaningful student projects using experiential learning: (1) make learning relevant; (2) make knowledge useful and creative; (3) get the students involved; (4) limit dead-end projects; (5) have students apply what they are learning to life; and (6) maximize community involvement. Describes model projects. (MJP)

Describes implementation of the Reggio Approach in a university preschool. Summarizes the learning assumptions and teaching methods used. Examines the parent-teacher, teacher-teacher, and teacher-child partnerships; and describes and reflects on student projects related to dinosaurs, kites, castles, princes, and princesses. Discusses the impact on…

Describes an experience-based teacher-education program at Queen's University (Ontario), including the program's theoretical background and its emphasis on inclusion of special-needs children. Two case studies prepared by teachers from their 14-week practicum experiences are presented. (DB)

Examination of the workplace as a learning environment reveals it is far from ideal and poses unique challenges to the practicum supervisor, especially when that role is assumed by a workplace supervisor. Specific interests of student and employee may not coincide, and the interests of both diverge from those of organizations and owners. (MSE)

Describes a one-year course to develop students' research skills at the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Science. The course offers a combination of rigorous content (optics and optical instrumentation), interdisciplinary curriculum, and hands-on experiences in meaningful, nontraditional learning in real-life research settings. (Author/DB)

Profiles a number of projects and activities enacted during the 1996 Summer Colloquium, "Art and Ecology: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Curriculum." Participants created ecologically sensitive structures for pond life at a nearby wetland and attended a dramatic presentation about early mound dwellers performed on the site. (MJP)