This book examines the role of interlocutors and their individual differences (IDs) in second language (L2) development from four theoretical lenses: the cognitive-interactionist approach, sociocultural theory, the variationist approach, and complex dynamic systems theory. A theoretical overview to each approach is written by a preeminent scholar…

Instructors are constantly baffled by the fact that two students who are sitting in the same class, who have access to the same materials, can come to understand a particular chemistry concept differently. Variation theory offers a theoretical framework from which to explore possible variations in experience and the resulting differences in…

In; the past 3 years there has been a resurgence of interest in learning styles as applied to education generally and to professions education in particular. For all this activity there are difficulties preventing significant progress. Chief among these is the bewildering confusion of definitions surrounding learning style conceptualization, and…

Some feel that a persistent shortcoming of the collective views of human action is that they often advocate a view of the individual as merely a bearer or token for the group to which he or she belongs. These theories do not account for individual choice. This project attempts to arrive at a general critique of individualism, drawing on a number…

Examines issues in broad-based training in the context of transfer of training. Classical research findings on transfer are summarized and training policy implications are drawn. Transfer is reexamined relative to recent ideas in cognitive psychology, training methods to enhance transfer are suggested, and future research needs are addressed.…

Analyzes instructional theory requirements and suggests that structural learning theories meet these requirements. Essentials of such theories are illustrated in the context of designing an instructional unit on subtraction. Structural learning theories are then described more generally and contrasted with cognitive theories. Implications for…

In reviewing Herbert J. Klausmeier's academic career, this paper discusses four major areas of his contributions: (1) cognitive learning and development (CLD); (2) individual differences and related educational provisions; (3) educational research as a field of scientific inquiry; and (4) teacher education. CLD, Klausmeier' major contribution, was…