Navigating the Active Learning Swamp

Journal Article | October 2001

The authors surveyed 29 fellow faculty by asking them to define active learning, to rate how effectively different teaching techniques contribute to active learning, and to list the three teaching techniques they use…

Perspectives: Assessing for Science Learning

Journal Article | February 2007

Often the word assessment conjures up the notion of tests or quizzes that occur at the end of a lesson or a unit. These summative assessments take place when an instructional sequence is completed, providing a summary…

Science in the Toilet: The Flush of Learning

Journal Article | January 2004

Of the many possible technologies available to highlight the uses of science in everyday activities, few are more ubiquitous or more humble than the toilet. However, this much-used and much-overlooked appliance…

The Early Years: Documenting Learning

Journal Article | October 2010

Children’s work documents their thinking and the details they note as they learn more. Over time, by drawing, dictating, or writing about their observations, children can reveal and deepen their understanding of science…

The Learning-Style Teaching Model

Journal Article | January 2001

The recent surge of interest in science education reform is welcome news for teachers who are eager to engage students in active science learning. However, along with these positive steps in science education reform…

Learning to Teach: The Role of Evidence

Journal Article | February 2005

Prospective science teachers should be taught how to base their planning and instructional decisions on the systematic analysis of evidence of student understanding. We describe three investigations that teach future…

Commentary: Learning with Virtual Skies

Journal Article | December 2001

An opinion piece about NASA"s Virtual Skies website developed with the goal of teaching aviation concepts to high school students. This article features two lessons designed to help students apply current genetics…

Interactive Learning with Java Applets

Journal Article | October 2005

Science teachers face challenges that affect the quality of instruction. Tight budgets, limited resources, school schedules, and other obstacles limit students' opportunities to experience science that is visual and…