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The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of employing preservice teachers as leaders in technology to change teacher education curriculum, and to mentor and support inservice teachers, teacher education faculty and preservice teachers. We describe the evolution of the design of this program by comparing the first and fourth year, and examining the mutual benefits for 49 members of the Technology Leadership Cadre (TLC) and the people they influenced. Using design-based research, we used an iterative approach to revise the structure of the program based on data we collected and analyzed. This data included 121 postings from an electronic discussion board, 964 surveys, observations, interviews with four faculty consultants, and focus group interviews with members of the Technology Leadership Cadre. TLC members collaborated with faculty in changing the portfolio assessment process from paper to electronic. This change in turn prompted faculty to incorporate technology-based artifacts for students to incorporate in their e-portfolios. Most important, as TLC members taught others technology skills through workshops and mentoring, they developed leadership in technology and in the classroom through this mutually beneficial relationship.

We explored whether a new pedagogy using personal response systems (clickers) along with case study teaching improved students' perceptions of their understanding of science in large introductory biology classrooms. Twelve faculty from nine institutions and 1,457 students across the United States and Canada participated in this study. Faculty taught six to eight topics in biology by lecture or clicker case method, alternating the methods within the same course. Data include student responses to a survey questionnaire. Results indicated that students, especially women and nonscience majors, were generally positive toward the use of both clickers and cases. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.

Does an online, multimedia case study influence students' performance, motivation, and perceptions of science in collegiate level biology classes, and if so, how? One hundred and eight students in 5 classes from 4 campuses in the United States and Puerto Rico participated in data collection (performance tests, surveys and focus group interviews). Pre- and post-test results increased after students participated in the learning environment (F(1, 80) = 17.256, p less than or equal to 0.01, eta[superscript 2] = 0.177). Student confidence in their knowledge also increased. During focus group interviews students reported that the project was a good learning experience (95%), would help with future classes or careers (87%), and stimulated student curiosity by demonstrating the application of theoretical knowledge in real-world situations (64%). The learning environment motivated students by making material relevant, which resulted in better performance. This pedagogical tool is not instructor dependent, and is adaptable.

The perception of science as boring is a major issue for teachers at all instructional levels. Tertiary classes especially suffer from a reputation for being dry, instructor-centered, and irrelevant to the lives of students. However, previous research has shown that science can be interesting to students if it is presented in such a manner as to generate personal curiosity and interest. This study explored the efficacy of two multimedia, case-based approaches to develop interest and perceptions of relevance in an introductory biology class. One of these approaches enabled students to test hypotheses about wolf ecology using radio telemetry data, while the other enabled them to play the role of a geneticist testing for genetic and infectious disease conditions. After completing both projects, 32 students volunteered to participate in one of four video-recorded focus interview groups to determine what non-majors in an introductory biology course think is relevant science to learn and why. Twelve trends in student views on relevance, the most important of which were potential use, curiosity, global relevance, and human relevance emerged from this study. Students preferred both case-based projects to lecture, and liked the project on human health better than the case project on wolf ecology. This research contributes significantly to understanding how personal curiosity and relevance motivate students in science classrooms. (Contains 2 tables.)

This study investigated gender differences in science learning between two pedagogical approaches: traditional lecture and narrative case studies using personal response systems ("clickers"). Thirteen instructors of introductory biology classes at 12 different institutions across the USA and Canada used two types of pedagogy (Clicker Cases and traditional lecture) to teach eight topic areas. Three different sets of multiple regression analysis were conducted for three separate dependent variables: posttest score, change in score from posttest to final, and transfer score. Interactions between gender and pedagogical approach were found across the three analyses. Women either performed better with Clicker Cases, or about the same with either instructional method, but men performed markedly better with lectures in most topic areas. Our results suggest that men and women experience two pedagogical approaches--Clicker Cases and lectures--differently, and that Clicker Cases are more favorable for women than for men. (Contains 9 tables and 5 figures.)

Although interactive technology is presumed to increase student understanding in large classes, no previous research studies have empirically explored the effects of Clicker Cases on students' performance. A Clicker Case is a story (e.g., a problem someone is facing) that uses clickers (student response systems) to engage students in understanding the meaning of the science contained within the story. Using an experimental randomized Solomon design across 11 institutions, we found that Clicker Cases increased student understanding more than PowerPoint lectures in large introductory biology classrooms, although there was variation across institutions and topics. By examining student performance in conjunction with faculty experience, we found that strong Clicker Cases created dissonance, captured attention and involved students in interpreting data or making decisions. This study provides a model for collaborative research across multiple institutions and demonstrates the need for using multiple institutions and topics in research on education.

Since "A Nation at Risk" was released in the 1980s, standards-based reform has been the most dominant trend in American educational policy, and the No Child Left Behind Act pushed the trend further by requiring states to develop rigorous curriculum standards. Though much has been said about these new standards, less has been said about whether or how well professional development helps teachers link their instruction to these standards. This study examined the impact of a professional development program for K-12 science teachers in helping teachers meet state curriculum standards. Seventy-five science teachers in Michigan participated in a 2-week summer workshop that used Problem-Based Learning for improving teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. Researchers surveyed participating teachers about the change of teachers' preparedness for standards-based teaching, their expectations to meet state curriculum standards, and whether their expectations were met. In addition, the usefulness of workshop activities was examined. Data analysis showed that to align teaching with state curriculum standards, participating teachers expected to learn instructional strategies and enhance science content knowledge through professional development, and by and large their expectations were well met. Collaboration with colleagues and facilitators helped teachers achieve their goals in terms of teaching within state curriculum standards. These findings have important implications for designing professional development to help teachers align instruction with curriculum standards.

In this investigation we assessed whether different formats of media (video, text, and video + text) influenced participants' engagement, cognitive processing and recall of non-fiction cases of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. For each of the cases used in the study, we designed three informationally-equivalent versions: video, text, and video + text. Thirty participants experienced one version in each format, thought aloud as they read or viewed the case, discussed their reactions to the stories during an interview, and completed an affective and engagement survey. Participants were again interviewed 6 weeks later to assess their memory for the cases. Results from protocol analysis indicate that the video and video + text versions of the stories led to higher levels of both engagement and sympathy with the characters, and recall of particular information; however, interactions between medium and content were important. We argue the main benefit of video lies in engaging students emotionally in the content.

Although researchers have reported positive effects on teacher learning from observing published video, teachers' own video, and their colleagues' video, very few professional development programs have integrated all three types of video to improve teacher learning. In this study, we examined the affordances and challenges of the three types of video when they were used in a Problem-Based Learning professional development program, drawing upon multiple data sources from 26 K-12 science teachers. We present a case study to illustrate how one teacher might learn from each type of video, and conclude with recommendations for using video in professional development. (Contains 2 tables.)

Engaging teachers in discussing and analyzing problems of practice has great potential for teacher professional development, yet little is known about how to facilitate such discussion. This study examined the strategies that experienced facilitators used to promote productive discussion among science teachers. Participants were 6 facilitators and 35 in-service teachers who participated in a professional development program that adopted a problem-based learning approach for teacher learning. Data analysis showed that experienced facilitators used a variety of strategies in their facilitation, including questioning, revoicing, making connections, clarifying, reframing, summarizing, role playing, meta-talk, and modeling. In particular, questioning and revoicing were the most important strategies in all sessions studied, accounting for about half of the facilitators' talk. Analysis further revealed both productive and disruptive characteristics of questioning and revoicing. In addition, analysis found that teachers were able to make progress in participating in the problem-based learning discourse in different ways. This study has implications for research on teacher professional development, problem-based learning, and learner-centered instruction. (Contains 7 tables.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate how two female students participated in science practices as they worked in a multimedia case-based environment: interpreting simulated results, reading and writing multiple texts, role-playing, and Internet conferencing. Using discourse analysis, the following data were analyzed: students' published web posters, Internet conferencing logs between American and Zimbabwean university students, and a focus group interview. Three constructs supported the development of these students' identities in practice: (a) multimedia cases creating emotional involvement; (b) authoring web posters, and role-playing situated in cross-cultural social networks; and (c) altruism associated with relevant global topics. The investigators argue that educators and developers of online learning environments consider social contexts, authoring, and opportunities for cross-cultural interaction to support participation in science practices. (Contains 9 figures, 4 tables, and 1 note.)

Learning to conduct interactive classroom discussions is a high priority for becoming an effective teacher, and most teachers view conducting productive classroom discussions as a complex undertaking. Because the dynamics of facilitating classroom discussions are multifaceted and hard to analyze in real time, there is a growing interest in how video allows preservice teachers to examine records of their practice to promote further growth. What prospective teachers actually take away from analysis of video, however, needs further exploration. In this study, we explored five preservice student teachers' beliefs about conducting discussions and probed the potential of videocase construction for supporting teacher learning by investigating the following question: "To what extent and how does making a videocase help preservice teachers investigate their facilitation of a subject-specific discussion?" Results revealed that by constructing and talking about their videocases, all five preservice teachers gained insights about how they lead discussions. Studying video excerpts and articulating what they saw in them provided a context for looking more closely at their own roles and student roles within their discussion. They also recognized the complexities of leading discussions and acknowledged particular areas that need improvement. The teachers used the metaphorical language of "guiding" their students down a pathway when they talked about leading classroom discussions. There were similarities and differences among teachers' conceptions of good discussions in English and science, and their notions of "guiding" were related to their subject matter goals. The study suggests, however, several areas that may require further attention in preservice teachers' preparation in leading discussions. Although the teachers expressed views of discussion that aligned broadly with disciplinary views in English or science, their language lacked specificity in what it means to develop varied interpretations of texts in English or consensus based on argument and evidence in science. More specific video analysis focused on subject matter goals and corresponding conversational elements may help preservice teachers develop more nuanced, sophisticated views of how particular types of social interaction have the potential to help their students reach specific subject matter goals. We conclude that investigation is needed on larger numbers of preservice teachers' videocase construction processes, and further inquiry is needed into how working with video analysis affects their actual performance in future discussion facilitation. (Contains 1 note.)

This study investigated the following question: To what extent and in what ways does constructing a video case of their own discussion-based teaching help interns reflect on their teaching? First, we discuss the notion of learning to learn from experience through reflection and analysis, why we chose classroom discussions as a site for studying pre-service teacher learning, and the promise of constructing video cases for promoting reflection and analysis. Next, we present our research questions and case study methodology (Yinn, 2003). Then we report three main findings: the interns' frame of mind toward using video as a tool for reflection changed from closed to more open; observations became more specific, complex and more focused on instruction and student interaction; and the audience for the case influenced what interns paid attention to. We discuss the importance of developing an open frame of mind in working with video for analytic purposes, the need to name and frame problems associated with one's practice in order to promote learning, and challenges of using video to develop discussion skills in science. We conclude with suggestions for future research.

Although teacher research has gained increased attention as a promising approach to improving teachers, many teachers find it challenging to research their own classrooms. Video has great potential to support teacher research because of its unique capability to capture the elusive classroom practice. In this article, we documented the role of video in supporting teacher research drawing on a 6th-grade teacher's reflection on her year-long research project. We described how video helped her refine her research question from vague to specific and observe classroom discourse that was otherwise difficult to notice while she was teaching.

In this study we described an action research project enacted by a veteran Kindergarten teacher (Sarah) in the context of a professional development program. Over the course of a year, Sarah collaborated with other teachers in a small group to investigate how to use "Science Talks" to promote student learning in Kindergarten classrooms. A Problem-Based Learning approach was adopted to guide the collaborative action research. Based on a rich set of data sources, we concluded that Sarah's action research improved student learning and led to her own professional growth. We also identified important conditions in support of action research.

Previous research has shown that questioning is a key strategy that facilitators use to promote discussion in Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Yet, there is a lack of detailed understanding on what questions facilitators ask and how those questions affect discussion. In this study we examined different types of questions that experienced facilitators asked to promote discussion of teaching problems in professional development for science teachers. We videotaped six PBL sessions facilitated by three pairs of experienced facilitators. Data analysis showed that facilitators asked a set of questions to initiate and advance PBL discourse, including questions to solicit ideas, to reframe ideas, to clarify ideas, to push for elaboration, to check for interpretation, and to connect to teachers' classroom practice. This study has implications for the development of PBL facilitators.

This study included four preservice interns at a Midwestern university in the United States who were learning to facilitate interactive discussions in English language arts. The authors investigated how the interns' perceptions of their self-selected audience influenced what they noticed, talked about, and learned as they constructed a video case about their teaching. Two interns identified themselves as the audience and problematized specific aspects of their lesson, whereas two others "showcased" themselves in a positive light for a public audience. All interns gained insights about their teaching as they constructed their case. Implications for teacher education and future research directions are discussed. (Contains 2 footnotes.)

The use of reflection and analysis in preparation of elementary and secondary preservice teachers has become a standard practice aimed at helping them develop the capacity to engage in intentional and systematic investigation of their practice. Editing video may be a more powerful tool than writing reflections based on memory to help preservice teachers analyze and reflect on their teaching. In this article, the authors explore constructing video cases as a means to promote analysis of a particularly complex practice, learning to lead classroom discussions. (Contains 2 footnotes.)

Much of Michael Pressley's work during the past decade focused on the nature of highly effective, engaging literacy instruction. Michael Pressley believed that studying effective teachers and schools had the potential to influence more engaging and effective teaching, especially in underresourced schools. First, we describe the grounded psychological theories he developed on effective practices for teaching reading and writing, and the positive and motivating classroom environments in which this instruction occurred. His work evolved from a focus on excellent teachers to excellent schools, and he was particularly passionate about developing a theory of effective schools in urban contexts and in isolated rural contexts. Pressley has had major impact on the direction of classroom research with a psychological theoretical perspective, particularly the construction of qualitative case studies. After critiquing the methodology used in this research, we suggest directions for future research. (Contains 1 table.)

This study investigated the following question: To what extent and in what ways might using video help interns reflect on their discussion-based teaching in a more complex manner than when they use memory-based written reflection? Three elementary interns participated in the study. Findings suggest that video-supported reflection enabled interns to write more specific (vs. general) comments about their teaching than writing from memory, shift the content of the reflections from a focus on classroom management in memory-based reflections to a focus on instruction when video was available, and focus less on themselves and more on children when they reflected on video clips of their teaching. The power of video-based reflection to help interns revisit, notice, and investigate how they facilitate classroom discussions is considered. (Contains 2 notes and 2 tables.)

To understand more about faculty perceptions of the instructional benefits of and barriers to using case studies, the authors surveyed 101 science faculty at universities and colleges in the United States and Canada. The results provided evidence that, overall, faculty think cases have a positive impact on student learning, critical thinking, and participation. (Contains 4 figures.)

Today, teachers face more challenges than ever, and biology teachers face a special challenge. As technology continues to expand, biology teachers have a responsibility to keep students informed of technological and scientific advances. Biology teachers must also address ethical issues associated with these advances. In this paper, the authors describe their experiences using "Case It!," a case-based multimedia project for high school and introductory college biology students studying genetic diseases, DNA, gel electrophoresis and related procedures, and ethical issues raised by genetic testing. This software enables teachers to meet several national science standards, such as connecting science to real-life situations and encouraging students to think about the relationships among science, technology and society. The realistic simulation also encourages students to explore careers in molecular biology and genetics, and gives students experience both in building Web pages and Internet conferencing. The effectiveness of this case-based multimedia Internet project has been evaluated over the past five years in both high school and college classrooms. It was found that "Case It!" fit well with science standards and promoted the positive use of technology in schools. Students developed an awareness of ethical issues associated with genetic testing, thus increasing interest by connecting science to real life situations. (Contains 4 figures.)

Uses the case study approach to introduce students to the relationship between science and society. Develops an awareness of ethics, specifically on DNA research, through computer simulations and Internet conferencing. (Contains 20 references.) (YDS)

Investigates gender differences in confidence judgments when they were correct and incorrect on exam items with postsecondary students (N=551) in five countries. Large and significant differences were found in overall confidence, confidence when correct, and confidence when wrong, associated primarily with country and culture. In contrast, gender differences tended to be surprisingly small when viewed within countries. (Author/MKA)

This investigation of domain-specific professional reading clarified the way 12 professionally active teachers select and read journal articles in their field. Think-aloud reports identified categories of (1) using strategies; (2) connecting to practice; (3) monitoring; (4) questioning; and (5) evaluating. These teachers created meaning in complex personal ways as they read. (Author/SLD)

Investigated whether case analysis would be an anchor for subsequent construction of formal and practical knowledge. In two studies, pairs of preservice teachers analyzed a case before and after units of instruction. Case analysis was effective in integrating participants' formal and practical knowledge. They identified more concepts and analyzed cases more thoroughly in their second analyses. (SM)

An action research project examined open meetings in four elementary classrooms. Open meetings allowed class members and teachers to discuss topics important to the group. Interaction data, meeting videotapes, and student and teacher interviews indicated that all participants considered open meetings in classrooms an effective pedagogical method. (SM)

A meta-analysis was conducted of 107 classroom and laboratory studies concerning the effects of expecting a recall, recognition, essay, multiple-choice, or true-false test on students' subsequent achievement. Laboratory studies did not generalize well to classrooms. In classroom studies, subjects performed better when they knew which test type to expect. (SLD)

Presented are the results of a study of the effects of peer-led tutoring groups on achievement in college chemistry. Supplemental instruction was effective in increasing students' achievement in chemistry as measured by final grades in chemistry and responses to a questionnaire. (CW)