Describes the architecture of PRABODH, an intelligent tutoring system with six components, designed for teaching language skills to young children and for providing them meaningful practice for developing grammar skills. Discusses PRABODH's language-learning philosophy, results of formative evaluation of its knowledge component, and overall impact…

Describes collaboration of two teacher educators, one in early childhood language arts and one in computers in education. Discusses advantages and disadvantages and extensions of this model, including how a college-wide survey revealed that students in teamed courses are better prepared to teach and learn with technology. (DR)

Examined changing beliefs, practices, and reflections of two elementary teachers who engaged students in project-based learning in a technology-rich environment. Found core beliefs related to knowledge construction: (1) strategic knowledge of how to find and organize information is important; (2) construction of projects leads to constructing and…

Describes the practical application of interdisciplinary activities in a fifth-grade classroom. Twenty-eight students participated in a two-month unit which integrated database activities with mathematics, art, English, U.S. history, and public speaking. Illustrates that student leaders were able to understand and construct search strategies,…

Surveyed reactions of experienced primary teachers to the educational changes mandated by the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and whether these changes affected teacher retirement decisions. Responses indicated concern over the primary school program components of multiage grouping, no retention/no promotion, and increased mainstreaming. KERA…

Used portfolio and teacher change literatures as frames for analyzing four teachers' use of classroom portfolios over a three-year period. Found marked shifts in (1) portfolio document; (2) ability to document literacy learning; (3) students' involvement with the portfolio; and (4) use of portfolios to drive instruction for individual children.…

Tracked one prekindergarten teacher's experience to determine whether a relationship exists between student outcomes and a teacher's ability to use sign language. Found enriching preschool curriculum with sign language improves hearing African American children's receptive English vocabulary and confirms research that simultaneously presenting…

Examined early childhood teachers' behaviors when they became involved in children's naturally occurring peer interactions in the context of free choice activities. Results suggest the importance of maintaining overall program quality, including appropriate ratios, as a means of supporting early childhood teachers' ability and availability to…

Studied goal setting by elementary students by utilizing a strategy of psychomotor and academic games. No grade level differences were observed; however, proportionally more second- through fourth-grade girls and fifth-grade boys were classified as realistic goal setters. Concludes elementary students can set realistic goals in academic and…

This study sought to ascertain children's perceptions of the value and usefulness of mathematics. Children were interviewed with open-ended and structured questions about the uses of mathematics. Findings indicated that children at the kindergarten through third-grade levels are positive about mathematics and their abilities to do mathematics.…

Documented differences in the quality of play in thematic and housekeeping organizational patterns of the sociodramatic play center in a preschool classroom. Found the thematic organization resulted in higher quality sociodramatic play in which the children enacted more roles outside the home, utilized more aspects of their roles, demonstrated…

Explored the effectiveness of an intervention program designed by the researcher to enhance playfulness, using sensorial stimulation. Found that the effectiveness of the playfulness training interventions is an important theoretical result that provides support for a model of teaching and learning that includes the enhancement of playfulness.…

Studied differences in food intake, waste, and time required for eating when young children are served by preportioned or family-style food service. Found intake of children fed family style was significantly greater, and no significant differences were found in the mean portions of waste or in the time required to eat. (Author)

Examined illustrations for portrayal of older adult characters in Caldecott Medal-winning picture books, comparing 1972-83 and 1984-95 winners. Found that recent books portray elderly in a more positive manner than earlier winners. In addition, only two significant gender differences in a field of 36 possibilities were found over the entire…

Examined how children approached digital imaging technology to produce a visual image and the knowledge and experience student teachers need to develop children's literacy. Found that children developed a range of strategies to assist them with technical skills. Student teachers needed support in analyzing the nature of the children's learning and…