Discusses the use of student-based focus groups as one component of university course evaluations. Steps in planning and conducting focus groups are detailed and applied to the evaluation of a freshman-level general health course. Finds that participants wanted to retain the health content but add more of a teaching emphasis to the course.…

Examined effects of storytelling and pretend play on short- and long-term narrative recall in preschoolers. Found that: (1) storytelling and pretend play affected cognitive variables; (2) differences between storytelling and pretend play in facilitating narrative recall were significant; (3) encoding ability exceeded ability to make inferences;…

Presents case studies of two struggling reader/writers who found a "way in" to the world of literacy through nonnarrative texts. Argues for greater attention to nonnarrative in early literacy education. (SR)

K-W-L, a strategy for active reading appropriate for secondary education, models the thinking needed when reading expository texts in all content areas. Using a chart, students recall what they know (K), decide what they want to learn (W), and identify what they have learned (L). Steps in teacher preparation, classroom presentation, and class…

A study used concept maps to trace conceptual change in 30 preservice teachers enrolled in an introductory multicultural/special education course at Michigan State University. Results indicate significant quantitative and qualitative differences between pre- and post-measures. Students constructed post-concept maps that included more concepts,…

Eleven teachers of inclusive seventh-grade life science classes were trained to use a teaching routine that stressed finding and using mnemonic devices to enhance students' recall of information. Evaluation indicated that trained teachers who used the method and their students, especially students with learning disabilities, were better than…

Teachers of English as a Second Language in a Malaysian postsecondary institution describe their experiences with introducing cooperative learning activities and related techniques. Focus is on the variety of techniques used in different learning situations. The contexts were culturally diverse classrooms, and shy student populations with passive…

A college English teacher describes the anxiety and resentment of students during in-class writing assignments and the successful classroom use of meditation and body movement. Movement seemed to relax the students, change their attitudes, and release their creative impulses to write. Implications related to the body-mind connection are pondered.…

Contains information on rain sticks and other similar musical instruments. Describes procedures for making rain sticks and using them in the study of sound. Discusses the physics of sound and how to utilize computers to study sound with rain sticks. (DDR)

Presents a set of methodological procedures to analyze student arguments. Uses discourse analysis based on perspectives from the philosophy of science and sociolinguistics. Explores conditions leading to warranted arguments. Contains 60 references. (DDR)

Investigates how museum visits can be used to meet the goals of practical work. Introduces a framework to facilitate student learning in museums. Contains 31 references. (DDR)

Reports on interventions in New Zealand elementary and secondary schools to enhance the teaching and learning of technology as a new learning area. Discusses ways in which researchers worked with teachers to introduce technological activities into the classroom, and teachers' reflections on this process. (Author/LRW)

A problem-based learning process in a social studies teacher's classroom encourages students to use their own learning profiles to assess individual test-taking skills, develop and implement strategies to improve performance, and monitor, regulate, and evaluate the success of their adopted methods. AMSOFT computer software divides exam subtexts…

New adventure educators frequently rely on lists of review questions to guide group processing of activities and experiences. An alternative tool is offered; a review table based on themes of hard (technical) and soft (interactional) skills encourages observation and critical thinking as educators modify the review process to fit a particular…

A computer-based concept mapping system was developed that provides two learning environments: "construct-by-self," where the system provides students with evaluation results and hints for feedback, and "construct-on-scaffold," where students also receive an incomplete concept map. The "construct-on-scaffold" had better effect for learning…