This paper describes the pedagogical impact of real-world experimental projects undertaken as part of an advanced undergraduate fluid mechanics subject at an Australian university. The projects have been organized to complement traditional lectures and introduce students to the challenges of professional design, physical modelling, data collection…

In responding to globalisation, Irish curricula advocate active learning and cooperative groupwork methods in second-level schools but there are many difficulties in implementing them. This paper explores the experiences and perspectives of teachers, students, principals and university teacher educators and is based on a recent qualitative study.…

Math can help children understand and think about the many aspects of their world through its connections to them. Teachers who see, and help children see, those connections enrich children's learning and development. Teachers know that building children's vocabularies helps them understand stories they hear and later will read. But by taking a…

This paper describes a case study/client scenario approach used in an advanced medical/surgical nursing course; its methods of interactive learning are facilitated by the computer technology available in a "master classroom." This approach incorporates concepts of adult learning theory and creativity and group interaction. The equipment,…

This chapter examines questions about the nature of experiential learning and how the experiential process can be applied in the classroom. Experiential learning may be viewed as a continuum that ranges from passive students receiving transmitted knowledge to active students deeply involved in generating knowledge from their own experiences. The…

This book begins with a short overview describing the four basic strategies in a research and theoretical base. The second chapter focuses on the three components of learning seen as universal to all lessons. These elements, "factual knowledge", "skill development", and "conceptual knowledge", remain in focus throughout the rest of the book. The…

This brief paper describes a school class project in which students "write" their own history books, based upon extensive research and writing activities. The guide advocates this as a way to create more interest in the subject area and allow students to become more involved in their own learning. Sections include: rationale; who could use; goals;…

This digest discusses the symbiotic relationship between art and social studies and suggests ways to integrate the two in the curriculum. The document advocates the study of art in context as a way to help students better understand the historical past by the values reflected in artwork, as well as recognize the power and potential of art for…

Project-based and problem-based learning are instructional methods that are being used to promote active and authentic learning. A graduate education course was first implemented using a project-based approach. The second time the course was offered, problem-based learning (PBL) using the Barrows (1988) tutorial process was used. The participants…

In order to promote successful distance education techniques, the University of Minnesota developed a training program to prepare faculty to teach via their instructional television (ITV) delivery system. The need for specific areas of faculty development were assessed through a survey of current practitioners, as well as a content analysis of…

Intended for both childcare professionals and parents, this book lists activities from episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood television program, and can be used with or without watching the program. Each activity is assigned a number which corresponds to the television episode in which the activity is featured, and a national PBS Broadcast…

A project is an in-depth study of a particular topic that one or more children undertake, and consists of exploring the topic or theme such as "building a house" over a period of days or weeks. This book introduces the project approach and suggests applications and examples of this approach in action. Chapters are: (1) "Profile of…

This book illustrates how educators in four U.S. communities committed themselves to preparing students for the democratic way of life. In four narratives, educators directly involved in four different school-reform efforts describe how they initiated demographic practices in their educational settings. The four schools serve as reminders that…

During the early 1990s, Art Hutchinson, in his role as Park Ranger and Coordinator of Education/School Services at Mesa Verde (Colorado), was exploring possible applications of the early digital information and multimedia technologies. The goal was to provide new experiences for Park visitors on-site as well as for students across the Four Corners…

This book draws on classroom experience to provide models of instructionally sound, thoughtful, and thought-provoking history teaching for students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Most chapters begin with a classroom vignette showing a community of inquiry as students are actively engaged in their history education. Each vignette offers a…