The science education reform movement is difficult for parents to understand because the new constructivist paradigm is far afield from science education as parents experienced it themselves. Educators in a New England middle school developed a new science curriculum without inviting general parental input. The problem addressed by this study was…

Although there are many different approaches, statements of aims, and definitions of multicultural education, an examination of literature by specialists in the field indicates that there is a high level of consensus about its aims and goals. A major goal, as recognized by specialists in the field, is the reform of schools and other educational…

This document is comprised of the two 1999 issues of a biannually-published journal featuring research studies, theoretical essays, and classroom practice articles about the development and education of kindergarten children as well as occasional articles concerning preschool and the early primary grades. The spring 1999 issue contains the…

This paper describes the subjectivist teaching paradigm, which has been introduced into a mathematics education course at the University of the South Pacific. Subjectivism integrates such aspects of current teaching philosophy as lifelong learning through student empowered, self-directed learning. Subjectivism, which is student centered,…

This paper reviews current trends in the training of teachers, particularly in the areas of content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, pedagogical reasoning, training, and beliefs. Content knowledge consists of the key facts, concepts, principles, and explanatory framework in the discipline, in this case mathematics. Pedagogical content…

Research findings related to constructivism have been applied to development of the Equipped for the Future (EFF) Framework and Continuum of Performance, a multi-dimensional developmental description of performance serving as a foundation for EFF-based instruction and assessment of learner progress. Acquiring expertise is a complex developmental…

This report describes a program for improving bilingual students' learning and thinking skills using the constructivist theory. It targeted bilingual high school students in a middle class, suburban Illinois high school. Students' learning and thinking behaviors were documented using methods that showed when and how they employed new learning and…

Project REAL (Rural Education Aligned for Learning) aims to improve mathematics and science education in grades 5-8 in five rural Ohio school districts identified as in "academic emergency" or on "academic watch." Program goals are to reform curricula to teach skills and concepts, rather than facts; improve students' math and…

The current agenda in science education calls for science instruction that enhances student understanding of the nature of scientific enterprise, enables students to critically analyze scientific information as well as apply it in real-life situations, and sets them on a path of lifelong learning in science. In order to prepare teachers who can…

This report provides baseline information from the six schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, rural Texas, and urban Texas participating in the Applying Technology to Restructuring and Learning (ATRL) project, which seeks to create replicable models of constructivist learning environments supported by technology. The information in…

These four newsletter issues provide information on current research and practice to early childhood professionals teaching in the primary grades in Colorado, focusing on education reform and developmentally appropriate practice. The first issue notes research supporting developmentally appropriate practice, describes Kentucky's primary school…

New learning technologies present many challenges for adult educators. They have great potential for achieving many underlying goals of adult education; however, like any tool, they must be used reflectively and viewed through a critical lens. The challenge is to use learning technologies in ways that support learning and respond to the needs of…

Noting the challenges presented for kindergarten teachers by current demands for accountability based on standardized measures that ignore diversity, this book presents ideas for implementing a developmentally-appropriate kindergarten curriculum within the constraints of American public schools. Following introductory remarks, the book is…

A new South African testing approach designed to assess potential university students' ability to cope with English-medium academic education is also designed to take into account the effects of educational disadvantagement and minimize reliance on students' content-based secondary school experiences. The approach incorporates principles from…

Presents data from an eight-year longitudinal study of the development of teachers' thinking about behavior, development, learning, and teaching. The case discussed illustrates thinking at Level five, "integrated constructivism," in which learning is problem solving and teaching is guiding thinking. Suggestions for encouraging continued…