Describes an attempt to introduce differentiation by task in an inner city secondary school. Concludes that differentiated work cards lead to no significant improvement in the achievement of lower ability students. High and medium ability students improved their performance as a result of using the work cards. (DDR)

Describes a study that determined whether combining cooperative learning strategies with instruction delivered using an integrated learning system (ILS) produced academic and attitudinal gains in fifth-grade students. Results revealed that students using an ILS in cooperative groups for mathematics instruction performed better and were more…

Tells stories of children in their first year of school (mostly age five) who were using calculators for the first time. Implications are that children's thinking moves from a rough to a more thorough and refined grasp of the whole. Learning mathematics with calculators is more like the learning of language than traditional classroom mathematics.…

Describes two approaches to connecting literature and problem solving with mathematics. One approach is to focus on a particular strategy of problem solving, then find a storybook related to the strategy. Another approach is to find a favorite children's book and develop the problem-solving portion of the lesson from the book. A resource list and…

Shares perspectives on what is happening at the national level in science education reform, why reform is needed, and the role that environmental education can play in this reform effort. Contains a discussion of the recent changes in science content and instructional goals. (DDR)

There is evidence to suggest that mature students learn particularly effectively in a problem-solving environment, and that they appear to be especially responsive to analogies and metaphors. Three examples are given of domains where the student has to convert a formulation into an equivalent diagram. Arguably, the process of performing this…

Discusses etymologies of mathematics words as a rich resource for deepening student understanding and appreciation of mathematics, history, and language. Presents detailed examples concerning the branches of mathematics, conic sections, and words of Arabic origin. (KHR)

Presents activities that integrate physics, earth science, and health. Students explore their own sensible temperature focusing on the physical processes of heat transfer. (DDR)

Presents information about the chemistry of color-changing markers. Discusses the importance of acid-base reactions and oxidation-reduction chemistry. (DDR)

Provides an overview of issues identified by undergraduate students through an evaluation of a distance learning course at the University of Wollongong (Australia) delivered in a distributed learning environment. Highlights include pedagogical issues and solutions; technological issues and solutions; and learning support issues and solutions.…

Compared the effectiveness of three different learning strategies on Korean English-as-a-Foreign-Language learners' vocabulary comprehension: context, semantic mapping, and word lists. University students were randomly assigned to one of three treatments of vocabulary instruction and examined on various levels of vocabulary knowledge using three…

Discusses the use of communication and information technology (C&IT) in higher education in the United Kingdom and describes research that examined student perceptions of using C&IT for a virtual seminar series in psychology. Identified student learning approaches within the group and how it affected their adoption or rejection of the…

Argues that the TRPP (Theory, Research, Practice, Principles) model provides a framework that helps teachers to cross the divide between theory and practice. Explains that the ultimate goal is to maximize student potential, particularly through critical reflection. Presents principles with a specific example for practice. (Contains 18 references.)…

Recounts the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in a cooperative learning environment by a teacher in a technical- and professional-related discipline. States that PBL frees students from restrictions and forces the instructor to release control of the learning process. Sample worksheets appended. (Contains 11 references.) (AUTH/NB)

Reports on a study of 86 undergraduate students working in dyads in five sections of elementary education. States that students felt more pride when they perceived their ability as higher than their partner's, and had higher expectations for future success when they perceived their partner as more able. (Contains four tables and seven references.)…