Examines what the metaphor "teaching as persuasion" would mean in the domains of philosophy, anthropology, and teacher education, asserting that if such a metaphor is to be widely accepted by the educational community and the public, then this discussion is necessary. The metaphor suggests that in teacher education, learning to teach…

Discusses the distinction between understanding and belief, illustrating that teachers' interpretations of what students have learned can be seriously incorrect when they do not consider both understanding and belief. The article presents examples showing that students' understandings and beliefs often diverge, making it necessary to consider both…

Examines how teachers can use principles of persuasion to structure lessons and units of study to help students in conceptual reorganization and growth of cognitive problem- solving processes, reviewing research on persuasion as a change process and on the viability of persuasion as a metaphor for teaching, and discussing the implications of the…

Analyzes the teaching of linguistics and ethics of representing linguistic issues in a persuasive way, examining tensions between telling it like it is and telling it in a way that students will listen. The paper highlights persuasion, the introduction of linguistic concepts, the importance of understanding dialects and their role in education,…

Outlines a series of recent studies that compare the impact of reading persuasive texts in traditional linear form to reading the same text in a computerized form, noting the implications of the computer medium for teachers. The paper concludes that persuasive texts do not seem to be more influential or guarantee better learning results in either…

While using refutational text helps students meet traditional learning goals, it is less useful in environments where students must understand that meaning is constructed, knowledge is dynamic rather than static, and knowledge is constituted in power relations. The paper examines the role of persuasion and competing goals (knowledge,…

Follows a preservice teacher who learned to challenge her assumptions about children's literary responses as she engaged with one child in ongoing imaginative conversations about literature. Not enthusiastic about reading, and detached from her own heritage, she learned to enhance the child's literary interpretation through connections to the…

In the field of teacher education, sexual orientation (when addressed) is often addressed in one of two ways: adding to what students know, and complicating what students already know. In this article, the author reflects on his experiences teaching these types of lessons. He points to some of the unexpected ways students have responded, and…

This article focuses on contemporary research pertaining to the closet and coming out within and around educational settings in Australia, Britain, and the United States. The research tends to forge a relationship between inclusivity and coming out, a relationship that often situates the closet as a zone of shame and exclusion. Lesbian and gay…