This book provides a comprehensive synthesis of major developments, trends, issues, and practices relative to self-direction and adult education and offers strategies that have direct application to practice. Its intended audiences are practitioners and professors, students, and researchers in adult education. Part I is an introduction. Chapter 1…

Reports on a study of 110 secondary social studies teachers and the variables that affect the use of learner-centered teaching strategies. Found that methods used in the preservice social studies methods courses had a significant impact on methods used by teachers. Concluded that teacher educators should increase the use of learner-centered…

Maintains that most educational institutions still treat students as dependent children and teach largely irrelevant material. Argues for a broader philosophical examination of the teacher/student roles. Concludes that the juxtaposition of autonomy and dependence, especially with older students may require more subtlety than schools possess. (MJP)

This paper describes a 4-month-long experiment in computer-based learning called Instructional Software Design and presents aspects of the software evaluation. Results included greater mastery of LOGO and fractions by the experimental class than for either control class and greater acquisition of metacognitive skills. (Author/CW)

Maintains that most computer tutorials retain a print orientation substituting connected computer screens for the pages of a book. Argues for a more creative use of computers' interactive capability. Presents three model tutorials concerning the Maastricht Treaty and U.S. Constitutional ratification. (MJP)

Argues for a dialog between reductionist (task analysis and specific skill training) and holistic (constructing new knowledge through experience) philosophies in special education. Claims exclusive adherence to either approach shortchanges special education students. Discusses specific strengths and weaknesses of both philosophies. (MJP)

Discussed is the classroom suitability of an open learning computer microworld centered around families of quadratic equations that provides a framework for exploring questions about parabolas to establish the link between the graphical and the algebraic representations of quadratic equations. (JJK)

Postulates that students' untutored and unrehearsed verbatim responses to viewing artworks parallel specific schools of thought in aesthetic theory. Middle school students tape recorded their responses to a previous museum visit. Their responses reflected some of the key concepts in expressivism, institutionalism, and formalism. (MJP)

Recommends using learner-controlled instruction and student sketchbooks in the primary grades as a means of countering institutionalized and standardized expectations of young students' artwork. Maintains that, left to their own devices and gently encouraged, children will produce original, creative, and personal art. Describes examples from a…

Considers the possibilities and implications of integrating psychoeducational methods and processes with the interactive transfer of information on a worldwide basis. Identifies various components and characteristics of this integration and presents some broad models of how it might work. Emphasizes the importance of educational psychology to this…

The development of key competencies through higher education is of increasing interest in government, industry, and academics. The contributors to this collection of research analyses and case studies focus on the competencies associated with self-motivated autonomous lifelong learning. Examining a variety of issues from a British perspective, the…