University of California Sea Grant Extension Program provides training and technical assistance to fishers, farmers, planners, and conservationists on projects such as coastal ecosystem health, marine environmental protection, fisheries management, aquaculture, salmon habitat restoration, and controlling nonpoint-source pollution; supports…

As a classroom level reform effort cooperative learning is recommended as a vehicle for teaching democratic principles in elementary and secondary schools and in preservice teacher education programs. The paper stresses the importance of theory, research, and modeling when making judgements about the application of cooperative learning. (SM)

Researchers examined how different reading and language arts assignments influenced third graders' (N=187) motivational goals, strategy use, and achievement affect. Teachers (N=8) modified assignments to increase students' complex writing and peer collaboration. Evaluation indicated students became less focused on teacher approval or normative…

Describes different team approaches to the organization and delegation of teachers' tasks in public schools, offering insights into the types of skills teachers need to ensure the success of the team and providing examples of how a teacher team may function effectively. (SM)

Argues that the integration of admissions and financial aid operations with the rest of the campus is a key element in the success of a college or university. Deals with the integration of these functions in a college and explains how to think about integration and the specific forms it might take. (RJM)

Describes an activity in which students reverse-translate proteins from their amino acid sequences back to their DNA sequences then assign musical notes to represent the adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine bases. Data is obtained from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the Internet. (DDR)

Describes the Environmental Issues project at Pennsylvania's Gannon University, designed to provide students at inner-city elementary schools with exposure to environmental issues and to foster their appreciation of nature. Indicates that students learn about local vegetation, water, and animals at a day-long mini-seminar at Camp Galindo, outside…

Describes how an electronic collaborative discussion tool called the Multimedia Forum Kiosk provides equitable learning opportunities in scientific discourse through generating explanations, revising the ideas of others, and asking questions. Contains 58 references. (DDR)

Draws a parallel between cultural artifacts that both entertain and enlighten and the educational experience which must be both engaging and accessible. Uses the making of the film, "Casablanca," as a model noting the creative, flexible, and collaborative work that occurred within a fairly rigid system. (MJP)

Examines collaborative teacher induction programs involving higher education institutions and local education agencies, focusing on the California experience. Four themes include the importance of multiple support or a triad model of support, unique opportunities offered by Professional Development Schools, the role of teacher educators in…

Argues that all forms of education have difficulty moving from knowledge to competent acting. Discusses practical exercise as an alternative to bridge the gap. Recognizes that exercises have to be embedded in trans-situational aims and planning and must include inert emotions. Proposes different training schemes for methodological-didactic and…

Describes the development of an elective module for final-year undergraduate primary school student teachers becoming specialists in science. Explains how the introduction of the Patchwork Text assignment format made it possible to exploit more fully the advantages of collaborative learning by students in small groups. (Author/AEF)

Presents an example of a complete Patchwork Text assignment assembled by a student during the module "Perspectives on Research and Knowledge in Professional Practice." The example illustrates the Patchwork format of a sequence of writing tasks produced at intervals during the course and ending with an attempt at a retrospective synthesis. (AEF)

Reports on the experience of using the Patchwork Text strategy in a modular course structure. The idea was to provide formative feedback for the students who traditionally complain that all the assessment occurs at the end of the module. A surprising side-effect was that students were clearly studying earlier in the module. (Author/AEF)

Provides practical ideas for "raising the bar" on student, technology-rich projects as teachers and learners work together to transform the learning environment. Explores levels of complexity in student products and determines what is realistic in terms of matching standards and activities with time and resources. (Author/AEF)