Studies have shown that the amount of time students spend engaged in learning tasks is related to learning outcomes. However, schools often offer to the students only a fraction of the time that governments pay for, and schools in lower-income areas often offer less time than governments plan for students. Instructional time ought to be an…

Describes study that examined how Australian distance education students use and learn from textual materials. Text processing strategies and rates of progress are examined; textual features including study guides, table of contents, cross-referencing, and visual aids are considered; and recommendations for improving learning from textual…

This paper argues that a precondition for good studying and learning in undergraduate study is a reasonable student workload. Ways in which workload can be measured, in advance of presentation, are outlined. Suggestions on how to regulate student workload and some implications for curriculum and course design are presented. (GLR)

Describes a study that was conducted at Tilburg University (The Netherlands) to test the impact of system and domain knowledge on search behavior in an online catalog. Highlights include time spent on task; the number of search patterns performed; and search patterns used most frequently. (11 references) (LRW)

This study evaluated the "I Found a Solution" computer-assisted social skills intervention program with 87 mildly mentally retarded students (ages 10-18) in 2 Israeli special schools. Following training, teachers rated trained students as demonstrating better task orientation and less aggression and behavior difficulties. The second…

This report outlines the role of after school programs (Juku) in preparing Japanese students for high school and university entrance examinations and presents some growing concerns about the movement. Juku plays a major role in insuring the success of Japanese students on tests administered within the country and on international comparisons made…

This monograph, part of a series exploring relationships between education and society, challenges assumed perceptions of time in educational administration as linked to historical and philosophical influences. An introductory summary of salient themes is supplemented by four articles. By emulating industrial capitalistic methods, educational…

Reports the results of a case study of home computing use in an Open University (Great Britain) multimedia course. The use of student questionnaires and journals is described; and student attitudes about relating new information to existing knowledge, retention, transfer of knowledge, the need for reference materials, and time spent are discussed.…

The concept of "task" is explored, particularly as it relates to the work students perform in learning a language. It is proposed that what really happens as a student learns can be understood better by applying the concept of task to classroom processes. The ways in which task has been defined by educators are reviewed, and it is concluded that…