Demonstrates the need for a process-oriented, constructivist approach to understanding infants' categorization abilities. Suggests that emphasizing the distinction between perceptual and conceptual categorization has been an obstacle to forging an approach. Proposes a more microanalytic consideration of features available to infants at different…

Two elementary school teachers puzzled over their students' fascination with using a paint spinner to make art, and feared that the "mindless" spinner was using valuable class time in which creative activities were intended to promote innovative thinking. Years later, a former student explained how the spinner accomplished the teachers' goal. (SV)

Describes four 50-minute lessons in which complex numbers are introduced to year-12 calculus students using hand-held calculators and laptop computers. (ASK)

Discusses the complexity of chemistry concepts and the identification of instructional barriers in terms of current learning theories. Recommends teaching to improve students' conceptual understanding. Contains 34 references. (WRM)

Social science, science, and business majors and undecided students (n=168) received environmental-sociology instruction based on constructivism. Ecology attitudes of science and social science students changed the most. Science majors had higher scores than did business majors on the Ecological Worldview Scale. (SK)

Describes a recent computer-supported cooperative-learning (CSCL) project called TSCL (Telematic (and IT) Supported Co-operative Learning) which builds upon distributed knowledge and constructivism. It takes the opportunity of Internet-based communication tools to allow students to participate in nonschool environments such as expert discussions,…

Considers how to integrate theory, research, and practice in human performance technology. Discusses human learning; market pull versus knowledge push; using inquiry to connect theory, research, and practice; constructivist examples; behavioral and cognitive approaches; and differences in research methodologies. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

The Empire State Partnership connects a school district and museum in implementing a constructivist, interdisciplinary curriculum that addresses state standards through the arts. Formal and informal assessments document students' intellectual growth as well as achievement on the New York State Regents' examinations. (SK)

Examines the role of constructivism as a philosophy to incorporate technology into the science classroom specific to the parameters of the National Science Education Standards and the National Educational Technology Standards. Concludes that care must be taken to provide for appropriate pedagogical strategies based upon inquiry and discovery…

This letter to the editor favorably comments on an article by Jerry Willis and Kristen Wright, "A General Set of Procedures for Constructivist Instructional Design: The New R2D2 Model" ("Educational Technology, March-April 2000). The writer notes that though the article's purpose is to describe an alternative to the conventional ISD model, it also…

Investigated the teaching behaviors of 11 teacher educators working with early childhood education student teachers. Participants provided course syllabi and written descriptions of activities and assignments, then completed interviews. Most instructors philosophically aligned with constructivist epistemology, though few discussed constructivist…

Studies a teacher's role and actions in a science learning community. Interprets two teaching episodes that illustrate how the teacher helps a group of students transform their understanding of electrical circuits. Contains 26 references. (DDR)

Discusses the development of multiplicative and divisional schemes within a constructivist framework. Illustrates child thinking and child methods relative to the meanings of these operations using interviews with children. Compares the constructivist perspective on the development of meanings of multiplication and division to what is found in…

Presents an evaluation system designed to document and facilitate change in teachers. Implicit in the development and implementation of the system is the goal to model evaluation for teachers. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Describes behavioral, cognitive, and constructivist strategies for children who have difficulty achieving phonological carryover. The advantages of constructivist strategies are pointed out and a model of self-regulated learning is applied to constructivist carryover activities which help these children achieve metacognitive abilities similar to…