Presents information about the problems caused by increasing population. Discusses the environmental impact and the ways that technology can be used to solve problems of overpopulation. Includes possible student outcomes and a student quiz. (JOW)

Outlines three broad approaches to defining the rural and concludes that only the discussion of the rural as locality is adequate. Introduces a theory of social representations of the rural and its relevance to the rural definition debate. (152 references) (KS)

A sociocultural perspective for supervision uses the concepts of acculturation, apprenticeship, and reflective assessment to describe supervision in counselor education. Supervision can be viewed as an intersubjective process that revolves around solving ambiguous and unstructured problems; features include the coconstruction of shared meaning, a…

The current pattern of suicides, including sex differences, is described. Institutional practices, material conditions, and social norms are explored. A study inquiring into Sri Lankan's perceptions of the problem is presented. Gender differences and cultural meanings of suicide are discussed, and questions addressing the source of suicidal…

Suggests that diversity in education, the arts, and the workplace is a reflection of life. Offers a working definition of "diversity." Notes that the university of the future will necessarily have more diverse student bodies and will require more diverse faculties to teach them. Argues that diversity is a journey and not a destination. (RS)

Presents a cultural, discursive psychology for mathematics education that takes language and discursive practices as central in that meanings precede us and we are constituted within language and the associated practices, in the multiple settings within which we grow up and participate. (Author/MM)

Examines the debate about how science should be re/presented in informal science settings, specifically the possibility of science centers and science museums addressing socio-scientific issues. Situates the debate within the current science education literature on the nature of science (NOS) and science, technology, society and environment (STSE)…

Current issues in workplace learning scholarship include the following: situated learning and knowledge, culture and context of workplaces, texts and discourses mediating working knowledge, identity and difference, and equity and ethics in working knowledge. (Contains 39 references.) (SK)

Definitions of literacy range from school-based models to functional skills to social constructivist approaches. Assessment practices reflect particular definitions. Literacy practitioners are encouraged to adopt a social constructivist worldview that challenges the current skills-based model for accountability. (Author/SK)

Critiques an article about social factors in Piaget's conceptualization of intellectual development, which ignored the integral role that language played in Piaget's writings on intellectual development. Questions the appropriateness of discarding these linguistic elements and notes that the article did not show how Piaget's early ideas on the…

Drawing on socio-cultural theory, this paper describes how teams of teachers and researchers have developed ways of embedding information and communications technology (ICT) into everyday classroom practices to enhance learning. The focus is on teaching and learning across a range of subjects: English, history, geography, mathematics, modern…

This investigation examines Thai college students' motivational goals for learning the English language. Thai student volunteers (N = 1387) from two types of educational institutions participated in this survey study which combined measures of goal orientations based on two different goal constructs and motivation models. Results of two-step…

In many school districts, the pressure to raise test scores has created overnight celebrity status for formative assessment. Its powers to raise student achievement have been touted, however, without attending to the research on which these claims were based. Sociocultural learning theory provides theoretical grounding for understanding how…

This study reflects a social constructivist theoretical framework in which the zone of proximal development (ZPD) is a central element, as two teaching approaches, communicative language teaching (CLT) and explicit focus on form (FonF) are examined. Research questions include: Are CLT and explicit FonF conducive to reaching the ZPD? Is there a…

Learning is a changing phenomenon, depending on the advances in theory and research. This book presents a relatively new approach to learning, based on meaningful human activities in cultural practices and in collaboration with others. It draws extensively from the ideas of Lev Vygotsky and his recent followers. The book presents ideas that…