Reports a systematic national study of the implementation and effects of Core Knowledge Sequence, a list of curricular topics to teach in elementary grades. While Core Knowledge effects included increased curricular coordination, project-based instruction, and improved teacher's lives, students' basic skills standardized test scores were the same…

Each designer contributing to this special issue was asked to prepare an introductory lesson on the physics of motion aimed at eighth to eleventh graders. This article presents a brief description of how a detailed physics content was researched, edited, and refined by subject-matter experts, and then ultimately presented to the instructional…

Reports on two studies in which students in introductory psychology courses completed a free-recall task designed to measure their memory for the course. In study 1, the most recalled items were vivid instructional tools; in study 2, the concepts students remembered were accompanied by vivid instructional events such as videos. (CMK)

Highlights an activity from an introductory psychology class in which students applied concepts learned in the course toward learning a new skill (juggling). Explains the procedure and discusses the activity evaluation. Provides suggestions for improvement. (CMK)

Describes a writing project, based on the reader's guide, that helps students get an overview of the literature on a psychology topic. Highlights the five components of the reader's guide (content outline, theorists and contributors, central concepts, hot topics, and major resources). Addresses the role of the assignment and student reactions.…

Illustrates computer-based classroom demonstrations in perception and cognition that require no computer programming and can be delivered with standard lecture presentation software. Examples include apparent motion, anorthoscopic perception, illusory conjunctions, and the capacity of early visual memory. (CMK)

Describes Elderhostel, a non-profit educational organization that offers inexpensive, short-term academic programs hosted by educational institutions around the world. Provides findings from two investigations of the Elderhostel programs, in 1990 and 1997. Focuses on the program's musical component. (CMK)

Argues for a unified consideration of how markets fail based on how an efficiency rule (marginal benefits to society equal or exceed marginal costs to society) is violated. States that repetition of the efficiency decision rule framework reinforces basic concepts and emphasizes the normative foundation underlying the analysis of market failure.…

Describes the distance learning initiative at the Scarman Center for the Study of Public Order (UK), focusing on two Masters courses. Discusses the course design, course materials, study guides, and complementary reading materials. Describes elements of the student support system: the student handbook, "fax-a-tutor" system, regional…

Describes instructional use of brief first-person accounts of mental disorders. Explores the benefits of using first-person, autobiographical accounts as required reading in a course on abnormal psychology. Finds that first-person accounts were more helpful in increasing student appreciation of the experience of having a disorder and empathy for…

Discusses the four assessment strategies used in the high school course "Social Advocacy: History, Theory, and Practice." The assessment measures class participation, journal writing, volunteer experience, and written assignments. Explains that the course focuses on social problems and self-discovery. Provides a course description. (CMK)

Examines the value of ignorance questions, or "a question stimulated by class material but not directly related to it," in ten different courses using student evaluations of this technique and their scores on written examination questions. Reveals that students find writing ignorance questions valuable. (CMK)

Describes an activity that enables students to exercise their data entry, computational, graphical, and writing skills to learn the importance of graphs in good statistical analysis. Students use four data sets to enter data, compute Pearson correlation values, plot scatter graphs, and write results paragraphs. (CMK)

Focuses on the benefits and effectiveness of using a dual-gender team-teaching approach in a human sexuality course focused on issues related to creating a comfortable learning environment. Addresses the student perceptions of the course. Finds that the approach is advantageous to both students and instructors. (CMK)

Investigated college students' personal choices for taking Web-based courses and whether their self-efficacy for the course content and technological components would predict performance in online courses. Results showed students who enrolled because they enjoyed Web-based learning had higher self-efficacy and better performance than students who…