The theoretical frameworks that have guided a researcher's focus on interest, the curricular and pedagogical implications of this research, and the possibilities for future research are described. The research project in question focuses on the effects of interest and importance on attention and learning of test material through a cognitive…

The primary objective of this research was to examine the relationship between student achievement in mathematics and pedagogical approach used by middle school mathematics teachers in the United States who participated in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. In this research, student achievement was explored at the item, rather…

The Teacher Professional Development Institute employs Internet technology to support distributed professional learning communities. The Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will soon employ a similar model in its program. Work and learning within STEP evolves around instructional design teams…

Collaborative, participatory, and empowerment research (D. Fetterman and others, 1996) presents particular challenges and special rewards for evaluators working with children. This paper describes some of what one evaluator learned from the process of designing and using in data collection and analysis a structured interview for children (ages…

As a learning theory, constructivism describes knowledge as being in flux--where an individual internally constructs knowledge through social and cultural mediation. Constructivist learning theorists contend that social activity and discourse must play important roles in order for understanding to occur. This paper describes how the social…

This paper describes the experience of making changes to an introductory educational technology course at Florida Gulf Coast University, which has just completed developing new curricula for its initial teacher certification programs. Constructed from the ground up and based heavily on research and theory, the new curricula ensure that technology…

Constructivism is considered a driving force in mathematics education. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the social constructivist view of learning can be useful in the teaching of high school algebra and in the preparation of mathematics teachers. A brief summary of the social constructivist view as a philosophy of mathematics is…

It has been suggested in the existing literature that the use of constructivist approaches in the educational setting contributes to active learning and knowledge transfer for students. This paper provides an overview of constructivist approaches used in a graduate-level instructional media production course at a midwestern comprehensive…

Builds a case for possible connections between the discipline of mathematics education and the practice of mathematics education in the classroom. Focuses on constructivist, interactionist, and enactivist theorizing and research. Argues that this approach offers opportunities for divergent thinking. (DDR)

Compares and contrasts the concept of social constructivism derived from work of Piaget and Vygotsky and examines their implications for young children's learning. Emphasizes the nature of social interaction with adults and children and its role in the construction of shared knowledge. Suggests that similarities in these two approaches are more…

Investigates processes involved in visual estimation and processes of judgment in visual estimation situations involving proportional reasoning. Exposure to a unit in the Agam project, designed to enhance visual estimation capabilities, resulted in changes in the nine-year-old subjects' strategies, reflecting processes by which children overcome…

"Mental modeling" refers to a student's ability to visualize or comprehend the information research process. This article reviews 50 years of changing conceptions of how we learn: behaviorist, cognitivist, and constructivist perspective; describes the application of three "mental models" to interactive technology; and discusses…

Presents, in the form of a fictitious letter to a new teacher taking a graduate-level course, an essay that explores questions often raised by young teachers. Provides a set of principles for becoming a holistic, constructivist teacher. (SR)

Describes the Leadership Institute for Environmental Education (LIFE Ed) program whose mission is to support teachers' leadership roles, enhance environmental education competencies, and present strategies for strengthening instruction in environmental education across the content areas. Activities include leadership building, extended staff…

Examines preservice elementary teachers' constructs for analyzing their own conceptual change classroom practice. Reports that the candidates used six student-oriented and seven teacher-oriented evaluation criteria and the five most frequent categories were all student-oriented. Suggests that the candidates were using a constructivist framework to…