Behaviorism was the dominant epistemology in education approximately 20 years ago, while constructivism has most recently been the dominant epistemology in the field. In this paper, differences between the assumptions of behaviorism and constructivism are briefly identified, and the behaviorist pedagogy of Individually-Guided Education and the…

This digest describes an interdisciplinary approach to instruction based on the relationship between reading, writing, and arithmetic. Questions related to which language learning strategies apply to mathematics, the perspectives of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) regarding this approach, the impact of reading on…

This book examines the commonplace rituals and ceremonies that play a central role in college and university culture; it examines how people build, learn, and transform culture in ways that create meaning and give definition to existence. Qualitative research on four campuses over 10 years investigated: why colleges persist with rituals and…

Explores constructivist teaching assumptions of early childhood teacher preparation programs: (1) active adult learning is valued; (2) educational reform begins in university classrooms; (3) translating best practices and research into teaching contributes to classrooms and student teacher supervision; (4) maintaining links to K-12 education…

A fundamental goal of multicultural social work education and practice should be to integrate humanism and a syncretic approach to learning that addresses value conflicts resulting from cultural diversity. Describes a model integrating this goal with dimensions of social work practice, including social welfare policy planning and development,…

Describes a preservice teacher education course dealing with rural education, based on contemporary learning theories and delivered through telematics at an Australian university. Students learned about teaching and learning with telematics through being taught with telematics and through independent learning activities. Outcomes and findings…

Presents pragmatic, cognitive, constructivist, and critical perspectives on determining what values and perspectives physical education (PE) students in schools and preservice education should consider regarding content knowledge, examining whether content knowledge can be separated from teaching knowledge and taught in today's schools without a…

Summarizes recent ERIC documents and journal articles, and highlights some World Wide Web resources that describe, evaluate, or compare various curricula or instructional methods, such as Creative Curriculum, High/Scope, the Montessori Method, Waldorf Schools, and Direct Instruction. (Author)

Examines the process that students in grade 6, aged 11 and 12, go through in distance learning using electronic mail. Highlights include a constructivist approach; acquiring basic computer skills through experiential learning; teacher's role; data collection; content analysis; and results that showed the importance of personal contact between…

Examines research on computer-based mathematics learning in the context of constructivist learning and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards. The reviewed studies examined the effectiveness of computer software in the three categories of programming, computer-assisted instruction, and mathematical tools. Future research is…

This qualitative interview-based study examines lecturer perspectives on the roles of electronic information resources in undergraduate education. Highlights include electronic academic libraries; changes toward more constructivist approaches to learning; information quality on the Web; plagiarism; information use; information literacy; and…

A constructivist framework for the practice of counseling, especially career counseling, is presented, including an Ethic of Authenticity. New orientations in career counseling (career counseling as a general methodology for life planning) and a new model of the self on which to base the work of counseling is discussed. (LKS)

This article describes changes in the Department of Special Education at the University of South Florida, which has embraced a transformative philosophy emphasizing the constuctivist learning paradigm, a collaborative model of work, the value of diversity, reflective teaching, and the value of a community of learners. Perspectives on this change…

Notes the remarkable success of the astronomy component of the National Curriculum in England and Wales. Presents findings of a survey of children's astronomical beliefs, which are consistent with constructivist theory, and proposes the value of children's astronomy learning. Argues that a 1995 revision in the National Curriculum, which would…

This analysis of testing as a social institution covers contemporary testing, from tests of integrity, truthfulness, and drug tests (authenticity tests) through tests of achievement, intelligence, and vocational interest (qualifying tests). It is argued that tests both construct social persons and control and dominate them. (SLD)