Describes several exemplars of software that emulate and incorporate machine-supported aspects of cognitive apprenticeships in science and mathematics. Concludes with an evaluation of software against cognitively guided principles and with a summary of the difficulties associated with creating and implementing machine-supported apprenticeships.…

Presents activities on persistence of vision that involve students in a hands-on approach to the study of early methods of creating motion pictures. Students construct flip books, a Zoetrope, and an early movie machine. (DDR)

Discusses misconceptions about constructivism by identifying related myths such as students should always be actively and reflectively constructing, manipulatives make learners active, and cooperative learning is constructivist. One central goal of constructivism should be that students become autonomous and self-motivated in their learning.…

Explores specific characteristics of insecure-avoidant, secure, and insecure-ambivalent mother-infant dyads (N=82) in the context of sharing a picturebook. Results support the view that early literacy skills are connected to a fundamentally social process. The learning/instruction process depends on the affective dimension of the infant-mother…

Examines strategies used by adult learners in an open-ended hypermedia information system. Findings indicated: (1) a variety of strategies are used by learners; (2) self-reported knowledge appears to affect the strategies used; and (3) perceptions of disorientation and perceived self-efficacy influence strategies used. (Author/AEF)

Reports on three-year case studies of two schools using alternative mathematical teaching approaches. One used the traditional textbook approach and the other used open-ended activities at all times. Concludes that students who followed a traditional approach developed a procedural knowledge, while students who learned mathematics in an open…

Discusses the increased use of hands-on teaching activities that, while meant to engage students in learning, fail to teach them anything of importance. Explains why this trend started and why it is continuing to be used. Concluding comments provide questions teachers should ask during activity planning in order to make it an effective teaching…

Provides details on the chemical composition of trees including a definition of wood. Also includes an activity on anthocyanins as well as a discussion of the resistance of wood to solvents and chemicals. Lists interesting products from trees. (DDR)

Demonstrates how teachers can move their students from the novice into the expert range of problem-solving strategies. Utilizes a problem-solving model that follows how such skills develop. (DDR)

Suggests that teachers use assessment in two equally important ways: (1) to periodically evaluate students' cumulative knowledge and understanding, a process known as summative assessment; and (2) to continually evaluate students' progress in learning, known as formative assessment. (DDR)

Presents investigations in which students are provided with a series of four mystery items related to cicadas. Observations and a class discussion follow each item. Contains basic information on doing experiments with live cicadas, specific assessment strategies for this activity, and facts about cicadas. (DDR)

Provides background information on the Science Education Quantitative Literacy (SEQL) project that is designed to enhance student laboratory experiences by working together on data collection and analysis. Includes details of an activity from the project curriculum on how many drops of water can be placed on a penny. (DDR)

Describes the role played by the Children's Museum of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, in science education. Provides details of the history and logistics of the program which helps alleviate school science equipment problems by bringing kits and exhibits to the schools. (DDR)

Recommends that teachers try putting a new twist on classic experiments to focus and motivate students to learn science. Argues that dissonance or discrepancy can be introduced into many activities. Focuses on gloop (a puttylike substance). (DDR)

Explored motivation and learning preferences of 336 high school students in Morocco regarding learning English as a foreign language. Students had well-defined and coherent learning preferences, with a five-factor model of motivation that were not completely in agreement with their teachers' preferences. Implications for learner-centered…