In this study, we randomly assigned struggling readers in special needs education (n = 23; 8-12 years of age) to a dog-assisted reading intervention or a similar intervention without a dog present. Students participated in 30-minute reading sessions twice a week for a total of six weeks. Using two standardised tests we measured reading skills…

The quality of exams drives test-taking behavior of examinees and is a proxy for the quality of teaching. As most university exams have strict time limits, and speededness is an important measure of the cognitive state of examinees, this might be used to assess the connection between exams' quality and examinees' performance. The practice of…

E-tutorial learning aids as worked examples and hints have been established as effective instructional formats in problem-solving practices. However, less is known about variations in the use of learning aids across individuals at different stages in their learning process in student-centred learning contexts. This study investigates different…

The relationship among students' reading performance, their behavior (task-focused behavior, emotional stability, and compliant behavior) in the classroom, and the teacher's skills was investigated in 66 third-grade classrooms. Results from this study showed the students' reading performance and their behavior in the classroom are all…

Academic self-efficacy is a crucial predictor of first-year university study success, which makes it a key intended outcome of pre-university education. Students with high academic self-efficacy at the end of secondary education likely experience a better transition to university. This study aimed to investigate which factors relate to Dutch…

Background: Traditionally, special educational needs (SEN) were often defined in terms of child deficits. Recently, there has been a tendency to define SEN in terms of (additional) support needed in the classroom. However, little is known about how teachers define students with special educational needs. To close this gap, characteristics of…

Children with epilepsy are at risk for problems in daytime functioning. We assessed daytime sleepiness, on-task behavior and attention in 17 children (aged between 7 and 11 years) with epilepsy who visited a school for special education and compared these to 17 children from a control group who visited a regular school. Within the group of…

Results showed hardly any differences in time-on-task behavior between third and fourth grade pupils in mixed age single age mathematics and language arts classes in the Netherlands. Students in mixed age classes spent more time working individually. The ability level of the students had little impact on time-on-task behavior. (Author/RM)

Researchers are analyzing the root causes for the universal problem of chronic academic procrastination, which is believed to raise student's anxiety and sinks their self-esteem. Colleges of Belgium, Canada, and Netherlands have begun to develop counseling programs that draw on cognitive and behavioral research to help students lessen…

Examines teachers' use of and students' reactions to cooperative learning, and the quality of the group cooperation from a sample of Dutch primary schools. Reports that students' social skills, on-task behavior, and self-esteem improved, while students reported a positive attitude toward cooperative learning. Includes references. (CMK)

Lessons in values development were observed in classes of Dutch students, aged 10-15. A 22-item observation instrument was used to record the amount of classroom time spent on a particular category. Factors which affected students' behavior included nondirective versus directive teaching behavior and certain questioning techniques. (GDC)

Findings of a study that examined the effects of teacher behavior and organizational factors on student behavior in peer work groups are presented in this paper. Methodology included observation of one classroom from each of 10 Dutch elementary schools that frequently used forms of peer work groups and teacher interviews. Findings indicate that…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the influence of organizational and instructional factors on the efficacy of cooperative learning in Dutch classrooms, as measured by student achievement. To answer the question "What is the degree to which primary schools in the Netherlands use cooperative learning," a questionnaire…

The IADIS CELDA 2012 Conference intention was to address the main issues concerned with evolving learning processes and supporting pedagogies and applications in the digital age. There had been advances in both cognitive psychology and computing that have affected the educational arena. The convergence of these two disciplines is increasing at a…