Contextual teaching and learning (CTL), which is still being designed and implemented, is a conception of teaching and learning that helps teachers relate subject matter content to real-world situation, and motivates students to make connections between knowledge and its applications to their lives as family members, citizens, and workers. Educational theories and themes that relate to CTL include knowledge-based constructivism, effort-based learning and incremental theory of intelligence, socialization, situated learning, and distributed learning. Approaches for implementing CTL include problem-based learning, cooperative learning, project-based learning, service learning, and work-based learning. CTL requires that teachers plan lessons that are developmentally appropriate for students; include interdependent learning groups; provide for an environment that supports self-regulated learning; consider the diversity of students; addresses the multiple intelligences of students (including questioning techniques that enhance student learning and problem-solving skills); and include authentic assessment. In implementing CTL, teachers serve as facilitators, organizers, role models, learning mentors, content specialists, and knowledge dispensers. CTL increasingly is becoming a part of reforms of both career and technical education and academic education. (This document includes a description of an example high school course CTL project that integrates English, mathematics, and career and technical education, and a list of seven inservice professional development projects. (Contains 31 references.) (KC)