An experienced teacher educator relates her experience of observing secondary classrooms for mildly handicapped students in five Atlanta school systems; describes the ineffective practices, negative learning environments, and poor student attitudes she observed; and discusses the need for holistic learning and student self-determination in special…

Four elementary teachers describe how they support an interdisciplinary curriculum using integrated units. One builds tall towers of spaghetti. Another touches on all subjects using baseball card games. The third turns the playground into an archeological dig. The last sails the ocean along with the Pilgrims. (SM)

Presents ideas to help elementary school educators teach their students about magnetic force fields by observing how iron filings line up around magnets. The article lists materials needed and offers a student page with suggested student activities. (SM)

In effective therapeutic adventure experiences that incorporate metaphoric transfer, the metaphor contains isomorphs that link the experience to client needs and therapeutic issues. Use of metaphoric transfer in a therapeutic experience for substance abusers is described. Seven steps for creating appropriate metaphoric experiences are outlined.…

Describes a northern Ontario high school carpentry class that incorporated experiential and adventure elements into the curriculum. Discusses how class activities met students' aesthetic, social, and self-concept needs; stimulated exploration into other subject areas; developed decision-making skills and group cooperation; and created connections…

Discusses the design of situated learning and the ecological psychology of situated cognition. Topics addressed include the teacher's role; teacher training; anchored instruction; transfer skills; the meaning of learning; apprenticeships; and the Jasper Series, a macrocontext designed to investigate the issues of situated learning. (46 references)…

Describes a university course in developmental psychology in which students participated as volunteers in community services for children and families. Explains that the course requirements offered 2 options: 50 hours of volunteer work or a series of 3 papers. Suggests that the volunteer experiences helped students maintain motivation and aided in…

Contrasts the instrumental character of traditional curriculum plans with the retextured curricular landscape inhabited by a hypothetical fifth-grade teacher struggling to help individual students learn. The idea is to teach science as a humanity, so that a privileged technoscientific mindset can be demystified and the multiplicity of human…

This paper discusses the elements of a management program to foster the development of speech production in children and youth with hearing impairments. Emphasis is on sensory management, experiential enrichment, and individual instruction. General cautions (e.g., avoid tension) are also offered. (DB)

A theoretical framework for action learning and action research is presented, as a basis for better understanding college instruction and learning. Action research is viewed as a philosophy, theory of learning, research methodology, and teaching technique. It is argued that action research both increases knowledge and improves teaching.…

In light of the growing need for individuals to be assessed or assess themselves on workplace learning, the different notions of reliability and validity in classical test theory are examined as they might apply to work-based learning. It is concluded that, under certain stated conditions, test reliability, validity, and comparability can be…

Discusses situated learning in the workplace and in the classroom. Topics addressed include operationalization versus legitimization of educational theories; instruction versus learning; explicit versus implicit instruction and knowledge; individual versus social context; systems narrowly construed versus systems broadly construed; and legitimate…

Discussion of the socially situated and constrained nature of educational computing focuses on situated critical pedagogy and computer education. Four areas are highlighted in an examination of teaching/learning situations: (1) praxis, i.e., a relationship between action and reflection; (2) situated critical pedagogy; (3) interpretive processes;…

Salish elder Ellen White shares her thoughts, remembrances, life experiences, and traditional teachings. She discusses traditional modes of teaching children; the importance of story telling, experiential learning, metaphors, and spirituality in traditional education; and the personal characteristics of elders. The interviewer reflects on her…

Elementary teachers can interest their students in U.S. geography by having them plan a cross-country concert tour for a rock and roll band. The project develops research, writing, and critical thinking skills as students learn about U.S. geography. The article includes a listing of state tourism agencies. (SM)