Collaborative problem solving and collaborative skills are considered necessary skills for success in today's world. Collaborative problem solving is defined as problem solving activities that involve interactions among a group of individuals. Large-scale and small-scale assessment programs increasingly use collaborative group tasks in which…

In this collection of 15 essays, educators describe successful programs they've developed to fulfill the National Science Education Standards' vision for the reform of teaching, assessment, professional development, and content at the high school level. All the visions correspond with the Less Emphasis and More Emphasis conditions that conclude…

This study examines two teaching styles in Chinese middle schools, traditional lecture-based and cooperative learning. The study uses simple descriptive statistics to analyze economic status and achievement scores for both strategies in four Chinese middle schools. There were 145 randomly selected middle school students involved in the study. The…

This paper describes a public/private partnership program designed to provide staff development to help classroom teachers integrate technology in the curriculum by using the train-the-trainer model. The Intel[R] Teach to the Future Project was developed by Intel[R] in collaboration with other public and private sector partners, and has been…

In developing the 1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), a special effort was made to include questions that would help determine the extent to which the characteristics of professional development policies and practices were consistent with the emerging consensus on the key features of professional development as described by Hawley and…

The purpose of this paper was to compare attitudes and behaviors of respondents toward members of other cultural groups. This paper presents the results of a Multicultural Attitude Survey conducted with a random sample of 122 respondents ranging in education level from grade 9 to university graduate students. The survey was adapted from a similar…

Case Studies for "Inclusive Schools, Second Edition" presents a sampling of case studies that contain realistic problems concerning inclusion issues for teacher education students to solve. This format was chosen because the case study approach to learning is gaining in popularity as it provides students with an opportunity to apply information…

This paper seeks to answer some of the many questions that exist about credit-based transition programs. The paper reviews 45 published and unpublished reports, articles, and books on the most common credit-based transition programs: dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Tech Prep, and middle college high…

This paper presents a Web-based environment (Web-course) designed for large groups distance learning programs in which students may benefit from the availability of large user and information bases, without losing the advantages of working in small groups. The system implements concepts of Social Translucence developed by Erickson and Kellog.…

A cross-college team of educators has developed a collaborative, multi-disciplinary senior design course at Ohio University. This course offers an attractive opportunity for students from a variety of disciplines to work together in a learning community to accomplish a challenging task. It provides a novel multi-disciplinary learning environment…

In traditional face-to-face classrooms, teachers lead their students through discussions using strategies that promote reflection and further exploration of issues and topics. The same holds true in the online class. There are specific techniques and strategies used in facilitating learning through discussion in both types of classes. The…

This paper discusses strategies with the potential to enhance student learning, teacher collaboration, building management, and joy within the rural school setting. With the goal of fostering education that makes sense to students, three general categories of strategies are considered: curriculum, classroom management, and building management.…

This paper describes an experimental course that modeled a teamed approach in preparing future school leaders centered on teacher professional development. Participants included representatives from the key stakeholder groups in teacher professional development (beginning and experienced teachers, future teacher educators, and future…

To become an efficient reader of subject matter in geography, students need to have adequate background information to read the ensuing content. Vocabulary considerations thoroughly enter into the reading act. A major problem for the teacher when students read geographical content is to develop meaning. To assist students in reading and…

This book provides elementary teachers with ways to use focused observation to help plan thoughtful, effective instruction and curriculum for their students. The recommended strategies can be implemented in a variety of situations, grade levels, and teaching environments. Three chapters present stories related to: getting along in the classroom…