Discusses 25 years of attempts to define social studies and to research social studies education. Argues that a definition that denies teachers' diverse experiences and instructional methods is dysfunctional and that research has advanced little. Calls for a reexamination of the research enterprise itself and of graduate training in education.…

Reports on needs identified by three teachers during an investigation into their first experiences of implementing technology in primary classrooms. Presents two models for conceptualizing and planning units of work in technology. The models form frameworks that may help structure thinking for authentic classroom planning and sequencing of lessons…

Examines the issue of accessibility in online learning environments (OLEs). Presents characteristics of "differently-abled" learners. Examines accessible and inaccessible elements of the learning environment. Presents relatively quick and simple usability testing techniques. Explores reasons why developers and providers should be concerned with…

Suggests that political apathy among young people is the result of not having the conceptual tools necessary to comprehend present issues. Argues that to grasp many issues, students need to be mathematically literate, which many are not. Suggests that instructors should expose students to comparative numbers more often. (DSK)

Focuses on collaboration for authentic learning. Describes an assignment that was collaboratively planned, constructed and implemented by one high school's teacher-librarian and chemistry teacher. Discusses outcomes of the assignment; assessing authenticity; higher-order thinking; depth of knowledge; and connectedness to the world beyond the…

Examined self-assessment as a means of teacher learning that develops teachers' understanding and use of discourse strategies to support instructional conversation. Found that teachers' analyses did not grow more precise, but interpretations of talk revealed growing ability to treat discourse as an object of knowledge. Explored features of the…

This purpose of this study was to assist an instructor in facilitating an online course while the class was being offered, and to provide timely interventions for improving the course during the semester. Instructional interventions were suggested and an overall evaluation was conducted. The approach, findings, and recommendations have…

The case study is an excellent method for teaching and assessing students' knowledge and skills. Using two examples, we present a step-by-step approach for analyzing cases and evaluating students. The advantages and disadvantages of using cases are discussed and methods for identifying cases are presented.

The definitions of information literacy make it clear that it is concerned with higher-order thinking skills. This article surveys the literature on critical thinking and extrapolates pedagogical requirements for fostering the development and use of higher-order thinking skills. It then considers these requirements in relation to the development…

An educational package based on the Messolongi wetland area and designed to develop environmental awareness amongst Greek secondary students is described. The package includes a book and a pedagogical guide for the teacher, as well as a hypermedia application/CD-ROM and worksheets for the student. The entire educational package combines recent…

Over the past two decades, science has become established as a core school subject in schools in England and Wales, taken by all students aged 5 to 16. But increasingly questions have been raised about the suitability for many students of the curriculum they are required to follow (Murray and Reiss, 2005). From September 2006, schools in England…

In this article, we explore the potential of the computer to support curriculum materials development within the context of secondary level science and mathematics education in southern Africa. During the four-year course of the study, a computer program was developed named CASCADE-SEA, which stands for Computer Assisted Curriculum Analysis,…

In this paper, we present a case study of a beginning chemistry teacher who enrolled in a project aimed to contribute to the development of teachers' knowledge of models and modelling in science. The project consisted of a series of institutional meetings in combination with an action research project the teacher conducted in her own classes. By…

This article discusses part-time faculty members and the importance of educational technology for these part-time faculty members. Institutions invest large amounts of money in technologies meant to improve students' educational experience and the efficiency with which institutions serve students. The most common technology in which colleges…

In the fall of 2003, the Eastern Townships School Board grades 5 & 6 teachers were faced with implementing a one-to-one laptop initiative, a new provincial curriculum, a balanced literacy framework and a language initiative whereby the students would receive more of their instruction time in a second language. To guard against Initiative…