Documents, compares, and analyzes the nature of spatial reasoning by practitioners (plumbers) in the workplace and students in the school setting while constructing solids, with given specifications, from plane surfaces. Results confirm the power of activity theory and its methodology in explaining and identifying the structural differences…

Describes a class exercise that attempts to alleviate student anxiety and fear of learning statistics. Explains that the exercise focuses on concepts associated with probability sampling theory and sampling distribution through the use of M and M's candy. Describes the four steps involved and additional considerations. (CMK)

Multiple collaborative inquiry groups were established in a K-12 rural school for teacher professional development and school improvement. Outcomes included individual teacher renewal, creation of a network for teacher interaction, change in teachers' classroom behavior, and structural and cultural change in the school. (SK)

Camps can meet or supplement their health care delivery needs by using student nurses. Three models for student nurse internships, basic information about nursing education, and tips for negotiating student nurse internships are described. Sidebars present resources for camp health centers, nursing student competence characteristics, types of…

Argues that there are substantial problems with the theoretical foundations of David Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI). Notes anomalies with the relationship between Carl Jung's style and Kolb's use of possibility processing. Argues that these anomalies make it impossible for defining firm conclusions about the nature of Kolb's learning style.…

Describes an exercise in which students analyze architectural barriers in campus buildings to understand that people with disabilities are excluded from everyday social interaction. States that through the active learning exercise students link their experiential understanding of environmental obstacles with theories and concepts about conformity…

Describes and gives examples of integrating adventure activities into existing classroom curricula at three levels: review or metaphors, interwoven activities for content delivery, and total integration into classroom design. Example activities include "Speed Rabbit,""Have You Ever,""Stepping Stones,""Whale Watch," and "Mine Field." (SAS)

Elementary teachers can use weather folklore to help students explore and discover facts about weather. An experiment with woolly bear caterpillars examines whether their stripes can predict what kind of winter weather there will be. A investigation about moon halos and rain gives students experience setting up investigations based on questions…

Reports on a 1998 survey of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) concerning their student newspapers. Finds that most student newspapers at HBCUs publish monthly and that the most frequently reported problems are funding and equipment. Suggests that black journalism students suffer from this regressive trend although there are some…

Shows how a classic experiential exercise in management education was modified to allow participants to use networked computers as well as face-to-face interaction. Suggests ways facilitators can examine their own assumptions about computer-mediated communication and help participants deal with its impact. (SK)

Examines the interactive relationship between school art education and museum/gallery visits by focusing on whether teachers incorporate the visit into classroom practice. Finds that when the visit aims to support the classroom topic and teacher's goal, then the experience is incorporated into the art activities both before and after the visit.…

Surveys students in master's-level courses in group work regarding their attitudes toward the use of an experiential group activity as a component of their training, as well as the level of instructor involvement in these experiential groups. Students agreed that the experiential group was an effective and necessary teaching tool; however, a…

Describes the benefits of an activity in which students analyze a data set comprised of information from obituaries found in local newspapers. The activity combines two instructional approaches: (1) hands-on learning; and (2) generalizing underlying principles to new situations. Discusses the outcomes of student learning from the activity. (CMK)

At camp, children learn values and skills that are seldom included in school curricula. The community-based environment of camps is conducive to learning self-assurance, community respect, and healthy competition, and to understanding diversity. Exposure to Nature promotes an infectious enthusiasm for the wilderness and for learning outdoor…

Service learning creates camper-centered, experiential activities in the community and brings the needs of the community into camp. Outcomes of service learning include development of critical thinking and civic responsibility, increased camper collaboration, replacement of passive instruction with active learning, and increased self-esteem. Two…