Explores common schemes used by Spanish 10-12th grade students in concrete and abstract contextual situations to explain the internal structure of metals, the causes of electric conduction of metals, and the nature of this current. Concludes that students' conceptions change progressively as they are exposed to additional relevant information in…

Described the characteristics of expert and novice teachers' constructivist-oriented teaching practices while using a movement approach to teaching elementary physical education. Data from interviews, videotaped lessons, and the Educational Games Observation Rubric indicated that there were significant differences between the two groups, though…

Describes the development of a practice-based methodology for researching "career" in constructive and critical terms. Suggests that career theories continue to be confounded by the dualism of human agency and social structure. Provides a detailed exposition of metaphor as a paradigm for practice-based research based on a synthesis of…

Describes a course development project at the University of Alberta that transformed a traditional lab-based, instructor-led course to a Web-mediated instruction course while preserving the constructionist learning environment of the traditional course and optimizing the course delivery mode to make it more accessible to a wider audience of…

Focuses on constructivism and lists some of the procedures that teachers use to illustrate the constructivist learning model. Describes characteristics of a classroom that is using the constructivist model. First published in 1991. (YDS)

In this response to commentaries provided on their original paper, "Beyond Intelligent Tutoring Systems: Situations, Interactions, Processes and Affordances," the authors elaborate on the aims of their conceptualization, focusing on the nature of affordances and situations. (AEF)

Describes the problem based learning (PBL) approach in medical education and discusses learning and study skills in PBL. (YDS)

Introduces a chemistry course designed for preservice teachers that focuses on increasing the knowledge of students using hands-on, constructivist, inquiry-based science experiences. (YDS)

Discusses results of analysis of data collected over four semesters of a situated graduate course in Web-based instruction that investigated synchronous versus asynchronous interaction; the importance of technical skills; aids and barriers to the establishment of a learning community; affective dimensions of Web-based instruction; and the…

Mathematics education in schools can be viewed either as primarily a sociocultural phenomenon or as a nurturing of the individual's mathematical development. Argues that instead of taking the dichotomous view, contrasting the Vygotskian and the Piagetian perspectives, the two may be seen as separate "truths" providing different lenses…

Comments on building departmental excellence through creating conditions for development of the focus that emerged at the Speech Communication Department at the University of Illinois. Considers how the constructivist turn in communication studies at Illinois in the late 1970s and early 1980s underscores the value of multiple-group cluster hiring…

Describes a research study where constructivism was used as the rationale for the design, implementation, and evaluation of four technology-based investigations for Year 12 Applicable Mathematics students. Indicates that for learning activities involving school assessment, many students chose not to work collaboratively. (Contains 21 references.)…

Constructivist and developmental metatheories offer foundations for prevention- and health-oriented counseling approaches that target the whole population. Proposes an assessment model in which the counselor is directed toward four specific dimensions of human construction and development: social context, life phase, constructive phase, and…

Used a systematic interpretive analysis of preschoolers' spontaneous narratives over the school year to study the development of their conceptions of the person. Found that girls constructed a socially embedded and interdependent person who becomes increasingly individuated and self-consciously responsible. Boys created a separate and agonistic…

Focuses on a current research project that examines the measurement of learner characteristics (multiple intelligence, learning style, learner ability), learner perceptions of the classroom (constructivist learning environment survey and views about teaching and learning), and learner constructs. (Author/MM)