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Geography teachers and school library media specialists will find this resource indispensable for providing classroom lessons and activities in critical thinking for geography students in grades 7-12. It is filled with over 75 primary source Internet sites covering such topics as Places and Regions, Physical Systems, Human Systems, Environment and Society, and the Uses of Geography, and will be an invaluable tool in helping teachers and librarians meet the standards set forth in the 1994 publication Geography for Life: National Geography Standards. ... Read more

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This set of three early chapter books plus an educator's guide chronicles the adventures of two lovable gerbils, Melvil and Dewey, who live in an elementary school library. They are both curious and hungry which is the cause of many interesting adventures for the pair. The author, Pam Swallow, a retired school librarian, is the model for their owner and her former library, their home. The first two books in the set, Melvil and Dewey in the Chips and Melvil and Dewey in the Fast Lane have been previously published and are now out of print.They were successful with school librarians who used the adventures of the two gerbils to begin units of instruction about Melvil and Dewey and his Decimal System. This newly published set debuts a third adventure, Melvil and Dewey Gone Fishin' and an educator's guide, Melvil and Dewey Teach Literacy. Activities in the guide correlate to the 9 Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning from AASl and to Blooms Taxonomy. The activities integrate all subject areas with a focus on information literacy as the spring board to many other literacies-as students are developing their skills, reading, drawing, making music, and writing among others. Books can be purchased by set or in classroom multiples.

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History teachers and school library media specialists will find this guide a valuable resource for creating technologically advanced, resource-based instructional units in American and World History in grades 7-12. It is filled with 150 recommended primary source Internet sites about history ranging from ancient civilizations to 1998 and is stocked with exciting, interesting, and challenging questions designed to stimulate students' critical thinking skills. Dr. Craver, who maintains an award-winning interactive Internet database and conducts technology workshops for school library media specialists, provides an indispensable tool to enable students to make the best use of the Internet for the study of history. ... Read more

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Wonderful Resource for Social Studies Teachers
Kathleen Craver does a wonderful job in this book describing how to useprimary sources in the classroom. The first three chapters describe theconcept behind using these resources in the classroom.

In the next 200pages, she shares over 150 websites that contain primary sources. For eachweb site she gives a summary of the site and gives five or six questionsfor discussion or activities for students. This book will save you hourssearching the Internet for resources. It is well written and has a goodindex for locating topics. If you are looking for ways to incorporate theInternet in your lessons this is a great way to get started.

This is amust resource book for your professional library. ... Read more

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Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

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Offering a fresh take on inquiry, this book draws on current research and theory in science education, literacy, and educational psychology, as well as the history and philosophy of science, to make its case for transforming the way science is taught.

Re-thinking the Way We Teach Science addresses major themes in national reform documents and movements--how to place students at the center of what happens in the classroom; how to shift the focus from giving answers to building arguments; how to move beyond narrow disciplinary boundaries to integrated explorations of ideas and issues that connect directly with students; and most especially, the importance of engaging students in discussions of an interactive and explanatory character.  Deeply anchored in the classroom, highly interactive, and relevant across grade levels and subject matter, above all this is a book about choosing to place the authority of reason over that of right answers.

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A concise, hands-on guide to AutoCAD Designer, this guide will help both the novice and upgrade user master the fundamentals quickly and easily. Readers will learn the secrets and shortcuts to save time and aggravation, learn to make the most of new coordinate-free sketching features, and learn to create work station-class designs on desktop PCs. ... Read more

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Presents an innovative multimedia teaching tool on the analysis of complex data in all fields of science and engineering.Intended to be used by students and lecturers.Systems requirements: IBM PC or compatible: 486 or higher, RAM: 16MB (W95), 32 MB (NT), 15 bit color graphics card (24 bit recommended), CD-ROM drive, Modem, Windows 95+, Windows NT, 100 MB empty disk space.CD-ROM. ... Read more

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Dogs are smarter than cats, dolphins and chimps are more clever than both, and we who determine the rankings top the scale--or so we think. But are we thinking clearly? To appreciate the mental abilities of the owl and the pussycat, the tortoise and the hare, requires a commitment to unraveling the nature of intelligence--a tricky and controversial proposition that Sonja Yoerg sets out to explore in this learned, lucid, and entertaining book about our complicated, often erroneous notions about animal intelligence.

With forays into evolutionary biology, behavioral science, and comparative psychology, Clever as a Fox reveals the promise and pitfalls inherent in any attempt to assess animal intelligence. Along with the concepts we deploy to define and compare intelligence, Yoerg looks at the expectations and prejudices that cloud our judgment of the animal mind, perceptions shaped as much by Aesop and Disney as by direct observation of our fellow creatures. And because such perceptions are inextricably linked with judgments of value--ideas about animal mentality have much to do with which species end up on our laps and which on our plates--this deeply revealing look at how we think about animal intelligence should help us use our own intelligence more wisely. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

OK, I get it.Can we move on ... please ... PLEASE
This was a very unpleasant read.I expected a book that would advocate a viewpoint of animal intelligence.Instead, it was a poorly rendered, highly defensive critique of various research, in places approaching a rant.

I felt I was being pounded with examples that were not adequately organized nor presented in an interesting fashion.At various points, the author was dismissive about examples that I didn't feel she had established a basis for, leading me to wonder if the author was not indulging in her own unstated biases.

What I felt were good points were shorted, and occurred so far back in the book that they aren't worth enduring what comes before.

More about studying intelligence than animals
This book wasnt quite what I expected. One basic theme of the book, we can all agree on: that there are many problems and hurdles to jump over before we can clearly define intelligence. She believes that misconceptions about a chain of intelligence (that is: the order of insects, fishes, birds, dog, monkey leading up to humans)caused by the media and our own arrogance have inhibited the study of intelligence. When comparing different kinds of intelligence and which animals excel, she proves her point quite clearly. For example is a certain kind of spider (Portia) smarter than Fido??

I did read up on some new studies, which I had not known before despite the fact Ive read quite a few animal behavior studies myself. Please note that only part (half?) of the book may deal with animal intelligence studies. The rest deals with intelligence itself, the history of studying intelligence, and its complications.

I truthfully found the author to be rather snooty in her writing. For instance, she dismisses vegetarians as people who believe animals are like cute Beatrice Potter characters dressed as people. This is pretty condescending to me! Also for one who is challenging pre conceived notions about animal intelligence, she certainly has her own regarding the animals she eats. Still, I would reccomend the book if only to enlighten yourself on Yoerg's main point: We need to dismantle the Chain of Intelligence and take a good look at each animal's mental capacity without bias. Only then can we look at our own intelligence objectively.

"My dog's smarter than your dog...he's part of our family too!"
"Clever As A Fox," Sonja Yoerg, VA, Bloomsbury, 2001ISBN 1-58234-115-X, HC, 208 pg. plus 14 pg. Bibio., 6 pg. Index. 9 1/2" x 6 1/4"

Dr.Yoerg (PhD in bio-psych., Berkeley) has researched, written & lectured on behavioral dynamics of animals.The book's title is apropos to it's contents as she discourses in well-executed prose -- the "Chain of Being" relative to the 'scala naturae' of Man's perceived cognitive abilities of animals in great depth -- covering species we've come to know and love the best:dogs, cats, birds, pigs, but also frogs, fish, foxes, finches, and the mammal "Flipper" to mention a few.

The author has wonderful command of writing, using those splendid explanatives, idioms and speach idiosyncrasies which can make mundane observations exciting & memorable, and it is testimony to the insight she has into the instinct, intelligience & learning patterns of animals both within their clan, species and between species, & the treatise is sprinkled with worthy commentaries on anthropomorphism & historical perspectives on the ever-changing study of the domain of animal behavior & cognition as it may apply to humans. It is a pleasant read.

A"Great Read" for a scientific overview
I purchased Ms. Yoerg's book in San Diego (her hometown). Little did I know that I bought a signed copy!I felt the book was very interesting, and written with great wit. Ms. Yoerg knows her stuff, and has done extensive research in her field. I found her animal/insect comparisions informative, and quite funny (you'll know what I mean when you read about Portia, the spider). I am currently an undergraduate, and will be using her book for some of my research. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good overview of animal behavior and intelligence.

Frustratingly Interesting
The author challenges a number of traditional assumptions about the nature of intelligence and about our ability to'rate' the intelligence of various animals based on our preconceived notions of either 'great chain of being' thinking or on a Darwinian evolutionay model. Why, she asks, do we rate behaviors that appear equally sophisticated as indicative of different degrees of intelligence (or non-intelligent instinctual reactions) based not on the behaviors themselves but on the 'type' of animals that exhibit them. We are far more likely to give a primate credit for exhibiting problem solving ability than we are to a scrub jay even though both routinely perform very similar actions. In addition the author offers a wide variety of ancedotal evidence for intelligence among species that normally are not regarded as being among the sharpest knives in the drawer. She also quesitons the various defintions of 'intelligence' concluding that although we use the word and think we can understand it, none of us can really offer an adequate defintion. And it is herein that my frustration lies. Our author raises a lot of questions and debunks a lot of myths. But I am left, after reading the book, asking myself exactly what MORE do I know now about animal intelligence than I did before. Perhaps I should, like Socrates, be happy just to become more knowledgeable of my own ignorance, but, to be honest, I want to know more about what THIS author thinks are some answers to the very questions she's raised. ... Read more

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Evolve your arguments about evolution

Teach Yourself The Evolution Debate covers all the arguments and key questions that surround this controversial topic. It offers you background on evolution, from Darwin toDawkins.

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Teach Yourself Evolution

Teach Yourself books have been around long before the books for Dummies and Idiots and their lesser insultingly entitled progeny that now grow like weeds in the non-fiction racks of our bookstores. The intention of the Teach Yourself series is similar: a first look at a subject that in college level textbooks may go to very great depths.

This book on evolution is short (180 pages front to back) and is little more than a studied glance at the subject. But isn't that what a first look should be? It isn't written for idiots or dummies (or at least it doesn't call you one), and there are no cartoons to entertain you along the way. But it is a useful start to understanding the subject of evolution. I haven't compared it to other books at the same level. But this seems like one good place to begin. The book includes a glossary.

This is a 2007 publication, and it spends a little bit of time on the assault against evolution from the positions of creationism and intelligent design. The bibliography seems heavily weighted towards books in the debate, and includes the 2006 tag-team counter-assault by Dennett and Dawkins set out in their respective books of that year.

Abbreviated Contents (as printed) --

introduction
01 the theory of evolution
02 natural selection
03 the causes of variation
04 speciation
05 the evidence of evolution
06 life on earth
07 the origin of man
08 alternatives to evolutionary theory
09 the contentious issues
10 the questions that evolution cannot answer
11 evolution and contemporay society
glossary
taking it further
index
... Read more

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The first step in complex math is now the easiest.

Alpha Teach Yourself Algebra I in 24 Hours provides readers with a structured, self-paced, straight-forward tutorial to algebra. It's the perfect textbook companion for students struggling with algebra, a solid primer for those looking to get a head start on an upcoming class, and a welcome refresher for parents tasked with helping out with homework, all in 24 one-hour lessons.

• Algebra is the second-most popular mathematic course for college- bound high school students

• Nearly all college-bound high school students now take algebra ... Read more

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Statistical research is a tricky undertaking. Although it might seem easy to administer questionnaires or carry out interviews, there are many potential pitfalls that can produce invalid results. Effective statistical research requires a thorough understanding of design principles, choice of study population, and sample size. This clear introduction demystifies these basic concepts and is bound to please students and beginning practitioners alike. ... Read more

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Where did opera begin? Why are wine, women and song so important to the Italians? What is the connection between Italy and the fastest tractor in the world? This book answers these questions, and many more, in a concise and lively overview of Italy: the country, its languages, its people, their way of life and culture and what makes them tick. If you are studying for examinations which require a knowledge of the background of Italy and its civilisation, or if you are learning the language, in, for example, an evening class and want to know more about the country, this is the book for you. If your job involves travel and business relations, it will provide valuable and practical information about the ways and customs of the people you are working with. Or if you simply have an interest in Italy for whatever reason, it will broaden your knowledge about the country and its inhabitants. The book is divided into three sections. Chapters one and two deal with the forces - historical, geographical, geological, demographical and linguistic - that have brought about the formation of the country we know as Italy and the language we know as Italian.Chapters three to seven deal with the wealth of creative aspects of Italian culture from the beginnings to the present day. These chapters take a look at the main areas or works of literature, art and architecture, music, traditions and festivals, science and technology, fashion, and food and drink, together with the people who have created and are still creating them. Chapters eight to eleven deal with aspects of contemporary Italian society and the practicalities of living in present-day Italy: the way the political structure of the country is organized, education, the environment, the workplace and how people spend their leisure time. The final chapter looks at the country's relations with the wider world, and takes a glance at the future. Each chapter ends with a section entitled 'Taking it Further', where you will find useful addresses, websites, suggested places to visit and things to see and do. The new edition takes into account any developments in Italian culture and society, such as the introduction of the euro, which have occurred since first publication. ... Read more

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Use the Internet to teach visual arts and refine students' critical thinking skills. Based on the Discipline-Based Art Education program, a proven art instruction program that teaches everything from the creative process and art history to criticism and aesthetics, this guide provides Web sources--and guidelines to evaluate these sources--on painting, sculpture, drawings, prints, and architecture from prehistoric and ancient Middle Eastern art periods through the Renaissance and 20th century. ... Read more

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A first-rate and "user friendly" instructional guide
Compiled and written by Pamela J. Eyerdam (and part of the Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship Series), Using Internet Primary Sources To Teach Critical Thinking Skills In Visual Arts is a extensive catalogue of excellent web sites which are especially useful for refining a student's critical thinking skills. Based on the Discipline-Based Art Education program (an all-encompassing educational program that covers the creative process, art history, criticism, and aesthetics), Using Internet Primary Sources To Teach Critical Thinking Skills In Visual Arts is a first-rate and "user friendly" instructional guide which is enhanced with guidelines for evaluating and making the best use of suggested sources, and especially recommended as a supplemental resource for traditional classroom educational curriculums and home school curriculum development in the visual arts. ... Read more