Measures preservice teachers' attitudes toward information technology (IT) following their participation in a discrete IT course taught in a constructivist learning environment where the students collaborated to achieve their learning goals and problem solve on tasks. Results revealed that with the constructivist learning approach infused in the…

Method is presented for displaying the sequential and multirelational ideation of scientific narrative elicited from respondents. The flow map provides a figural representation of the flow of information, the points in the flow where multirelational and recurrent linkages are made, and the time required to retrieve and express the information at…

Discusses changes to the Victoria, Australia, senior secondary school system curriculum. With a focus on information technology, elements of the Victorian Education Ministry program are defended, including the use of checklists to evaluate student work, authentication/verification of student work, external evaluators, and support of nontraditional…

Presents a study involving students (n=46) enrolled in an introductory physics course designed to describe and understand students' experimenting and problem-solving strategies in a constructivist learning environment. Concludes that students should be provided with problem-rich learning environments in which they learn to investigate phenomena of…

Development of a student learning model, based on the analysis of 14 students' classroom experiences in 3 elementary and middle school studies, is described. Data analysis rules derived from the model predicted learning with 80-85% success across the studies. (SLD)

Presents a perspective on behaviorism in schools and teacher education, then focuses on the beliefs and effectiveness of constructivism. Discusses information literacy and transferable library skills as the results of individual, active learning and curriculum-integrated library instruction. Provides resources to further explore constructivism and…

Presents suggestions for the implementation of constructivist teaching-learning strategies. Discusses the following topics: teacher's role; classroom management; planning; pedagogic skills, including negotiation and group work; and assessment. (JRH)

Interprets the outdoor-education learning process from viewpoint of pragmatist and cognitive conceptions of action, thinking, and knowledge as ways of structuring reality. Views outdoor education as socially organized, intentional activity aimed at student-environment interaction. Presents a model of outdoor learning involving goal-oriented…

Advocates an approach to teaching environmentally related studies based on constructivism. Presents an activity that makes use of data on chemicals in the water supply, and discusses obtaining and using data sets in the classroom. (LZ)

Describes a longitudinal constructivist teaching experiment analyzing children's ways of operating while solving fraction tasks. A case study of one third grader found that the evolution of her fraction schemes was the product of her cognitive activity and her collaborative interaction with the teacher. (42 references) (Author/MKR)

Describes the implementation of the Scope Sequence and Coordination (SS&C) program in Iowa. A key factor in this reform is bridging middle and high school programs through developing, testing, and improving local frameworks to serve as a basis for a science experience that is developmentally appropriate, spaced, and ever-expanding. (JRH)

Introduces the idea of using computer microworlds--interactive software for exploration of specific concepts--for mathematics education, the theme of this issue's articles. Discusses their development and the advantages of their use. Suggests that they can be successfully used for interactive teaching or for interpreting mathematics textbooks,…

Describes studies of children involved in cognitive play activities using discrete and continuous computer microworlds and their transformation of these activities into independent mathematical activity. (Contains 22 references.) (MKR)

Examines the impact of using the Macintosh-based knowledge organization tool, SemNet, with prospective elementary and middle school teachers enrolled in an upper division biology course. (ZWH)

Provides background on constructivist theory and describes practical applications. The article explains a children's thinking project that was part of a master's level early childhood education course, reporting what was learned about gaining access to children's ideas and insights into their thought processes. Implications for teacher education…