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…

This paper reports on the design and implementation of a project-based course--World Water Problems--that was introduced within the framework of introductory undergraduate geography education. The aims of the course were twofold: (1) to cultivate in students a world geographic perspective on water problems; and (2) to conduct an original research…

Students of the pedagogy of teaching have found that cooperative/problem-based learning activities engage the learner, promote ownership of the material, advance the development of higher-level cognitive skills and increase retention better than more passive learning activities. Despite broad recognition within the political science discipline…

This qualitative study provides insight into the first-year university experiences of students in a problem-based learning context an area that has received little attention in the literature. Data collection consisted of one-on-one interviews with students throughout their first year and of participant observation of students in the classroom at…

At most land-grant universities in the USA, Introduction to Soil Science is traditionally taught using a combination of lecture and laboratory formats. To promote engagement, improve comprehension, and enhance retention of content by students, we developed a problem-based learning (PBL) introductory soil science course. Students work in groups to…

New teaching methods are needed to match the industrial team oriented environment and to accommodate a variety of learning styles. A novel approach used at Washington State University replaces most lectures with a combined cooperative, hands-on, active, and problem based learning pedagogy. Students work in structured groups, with hands-on modules…

A study was undertaken to investigate the validity of a progress test, the Maastricht Progress Test, that was designed to measure knowledge and clinical reasoning growth in a problem-based medical curriculum. Scores and subscores of about 40 students per year (total sample of 195) on the different categories of the progress test were compared with…

Some educators suggest that schools shift their teaching paradigm to one of environments in which students take command of their own education, wherein learning is more authentic and students can do what Piaget suggests learning results from--acting upon reality. This book outlines six curricular models based on Gardner's multiple intelligences…

The effectiveness of problem-solving instruction in promoting high school students' acquisition, retention, and structuring of economics knowledge was studied through six economics classes. The problem-solving instruction model was developed based on problem-based learning in medical education, following similar work by H. S. Barrows and R. M.…

Preparing students to be effective leaders in their organizational and professional settings is a common goal of leadership preparation programs. However, students often lack confidence to share their knowledge and expertise in public forums. This study addressed whether the use of the rich environments for active learning (REAL) instructional…

This discussion of teaching science as a design activity emphasizes open-ended problem solving. Highlights include the relationship between teachers and students; hypotheses as solutions; and descriptions of four microworlds, or computer simulations, in chemistry, geography, physiology, and genetics which use graphic interfaces. (LRW)

This study examined nine cohort teacher candidates from each of two physical education teacher education (PETE) programs developed teaching portfolios in three consecutive semesters of comparable courses: (1) elementary methods; (2) secondary methods; and (3) the student teaching internship. Studied were changes over time in teacher candidate…

This journal presents the following four papers: "Begin with Beliefs: Exploring the Relationship Between Beliefs and Learner Autonomy Among Advanced Students" (Beverly-Anne Carter); "An Exploratory Comparison of Oral Narrative Styles in Korea and the U.S." (Jungmin Ko); "Rethinking the Red Ink: Audio-Feedback in the ESL…

This paper discusses online tools that support an essential element of technology planning--the staff responsible for integrating technology in their curricula. Two solutions using different strategies to address the critical area of support for technology implementers are examined, i.e., the online Stages of Concern about the Innovation…

This document describes a case study of seven community colleges that used curriculum and pedagogy to integrate academic and occupational education. Integration is accomplished by linking or clustering courses, infusing academic instruction into occupational education or vice versa, or adding components such as authentic assessment, career…