Highlights the importance of teacher educators co-constructing knowledge with student teachers within reflective environments, examining co-teaching within a social constructivist framework in one teacher education program. The paper examines four primary roles for teacher educators as more experienced colleagues within a learning community:…

Investigates collaborative knowledge building in a graduate level course designed to incorporate specific constructivist learning principles. Results indicated the instructional strategies promoted collaborative knowledge building and the acquisition of key concepts through self-directed learning strategies. Results also indicated types of…

Describes the use of several teaching techniques based on constructivist educational theory. The teaching techniques are used with preservice teachers to enable them to experience active learning strategies in the context in which science is practiced. (Contains 19 references.) (DDR)

Investigates how Catholic schools are making the transformation from national to multicultural schools as they meet the needs of new immigrants in the inner city. Focuses on the concept of mediating institutions, investigating urban Catholic school principals' willingness to experience diversity. Mediating institutions such as Catholic schools…

Discusses the essential elements of Montessori educational philosophy and theory, focusing on the integration, development, and maintenance of the four characteristics of normalization (concentration, work, discipline, sociability) into adulthood. Discusses Montessori's view that development and retention of these positive characteristics could be…

Examines to what extent students participate in designing, justifying, and deciding on their own instruction by referring to a research project on the participation of students in the teaching of specific subjects. Focuses on one example that shows students may pursue aims other than the teacher's without provoking a breakdown of instruction. (CMK)

Describes the Learning Enhancement Action/Resource Network faculty-development model, designed to improve teaching and learning at the College of Engineering at Iowa State University. Argues that teaching should be grounded in students' learning, and supports the constructivist notion that learning is an active process of knowledge construction.…

Uses four children's explanations to illustrate their use of assimilation and inference in a butterfly life-cycle activity. Describes how interviewing young children about their understanding, and recording and reflecting upon their answers, can allow teachers to better understand how students process information and construct knowledge, and…

Discussion of student assessment focuses on issues related to distance education. Topics include purposes of assessment; performance-based assessment; constructivist approaches; examples of alternative assessments, including portfolios, projects, and problem-based learning activities; implementation; and distance education as a catalyst for…

Describes a collaborative instructional design project in a university course using constructivist theory, exploratory and resource-based learning, electronic communities, and integrated information technology immersion. Discusses collaboration between teaching and library faculty, learning outcomes for students and faculty, and future…

Compares and contrasts two types of schools, the standard versus the interactive model. Topics include an emphasis on process versus an emphasis on results; constructivism and the changing roles of teachers and students; school culture; answers versus questions; and future versus present. (LRW)

Explains the main factors affecting implementation of curriculum innovations, including those related to teachers, innovations, and change agents. Introduces Hong Kong's Target- Oriented Curriculum initiative, a constructivist, active-learning framework, and shows how these factors enhanced or hindered program implementation. Teacher attitudes…

When faced with real-world problems, students devise accurate, logical, and creative solutions using skills connecting to different subject areas. Students are intrigued by assignments involving preservation of species and design of environmentally friendly products and transit systems. Problem-based learning depends on coaching, modeling, and…

Considers the advantages of online journals, such as wider access to new knowledge and increased availability of research findings. Describes one specific electronic journal, "Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal" and discusses the five aspects of the inaugural edition that demonstrate how online journals can exemplify the…

Addresses key issues facing designers of Web-based university courses. Topics include online courses; the technologies involved; online study guides; assignments; online examples; course communications; interactive skill building; theoretical bases; and constructivism and instructional design. (Author/LRW)