Two disparate research programs have addressed the challenge of instructional multimedia design. One, based on cognitive load theory, has focused on ways of reducing unnecessary cognitive load during instruction to free up resources for learning. The other, based on constructivism, has centered on interactive multimedia, allowing students to build…

This study explores the parameter-related misconceptions of two college students enrolled in a Pascal programming course. Findings indicate that both students appeared to conceive a direct procedure-to-procedure linkage, with the connection being made by identically named formal parameters. Both students were able, by making seemingly innocuous…

This response to criticism of an earlier article on situated critical pedagogy discusses social construction versus narcissism; student empowerment; perceptions of learning and teaching; situated cognition versus relationalism; knowledge and action; and the nature of theory. (eight references) (LRW)

Critiques the linear model that some managers use for appointing work groups, committees, and task forces; and discusses constructivist-based approaches as more effective ways to promote positive consensus, cohesion, and cooperation among nursing work groups. (Author)

Development of knowledge occurs through participation in social practices throughout life. Knowledge is constructed through engagement in problem solving; knowledge has conceptual, procedural, and dispositional dimensions; and the nature of the problem and different social practices influence the type of knowledge that is constructed. (SK)

Mathematics, albeit a socio-cultural creation that is mutable and fallible, is a body of knowledge, the objectivity of which is independent of origin or social acceptance. The inclusion of logical necessity in an attempt to elaborate on the objectivity of mathematics is a U-turn. (SAH)

Develops a constructivist view of evaluation as learning, arguing for a more complex and variegated understanding of use. Elaborates the notion of evaluation serving an educative purpose and suggests that the evaluator is a partner in the construction of knowledge. Illustrates the critical inquiry process that fosters knowledge construction.…

Reviews cognitive science models of learning and transfer, especially representations, structures standing for something else. Presents examples of how representations support or hinder problem solving and communication. Discuses paradoxes involved in attempting to teach critical thinking. (Contains 33 references.) (SK)

There is a continuing perception that current educational arrangements for technology education in modern liberal democracies are at odds with its actual delivery in the classroom (Dakers & Doherty 2003). The "techne versus poiesis" tension (explained later) is one major contributor to this perception. Equally, the practice of "transmission versus…

This article reviews the concept of "affordance", a term widely used in the literature on learning and technology to try and explain the properties technologies have. It is argued that the concept has drifted so far from its origins that it is now too ambiguous to be analytically valuable. In addition, it is suggested that its origins in…

In a rural community there is a risk that readers will not find connections to their own lives, which may affect the pleasure gained from reading. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the use of literature in a small rural elementary school, focusing on how sociocultural factors affect how students connect to and access literature.…

There is a distinct divide between theory and practice in American science education. Research indicates that a constructivist philosophy, in which students construct their own knowledge, is conductive to learning, while in many cases teachers continue to present science in a more traditional manner. This study sought to explore possible…

The purpose of this study was to understand how culturally relevant pedagogy promotes academic success among low-income African American children. The characteristics and instructional practices of four elementary school teachers, defined as culturally responsive by their school administrators, were examined. The study explored how personal…

Digital interaction in e-learning offers great opportunities for education quality improvement in both--the classical teaching combined with e-learning, and distance learning. Zagreb School of Economics & Management (ZSEM) is one of the few higher education institutions in Croatia that systematically uses e-learning in teaching. Systematically…

The implementation of a new mathematics syllabus in the elementary context is problematic, especially if it contains a new content area. A professional development model, Transformative Teaching in the Early Years Mathematics (TTEYM) was specifically developed to support the implementation of the new Patterns and Algebra strand. The model was…