This article presents the authors' response to Michael Newman's "Calling Transformative Learning into Question: Some Mutinous Thoughts". The authors begin by noting their appreciation of Michael Newman's challenge to transformative learning theory. In their response, the authors review and comment on the fatal flaws presented by Newman and then…

Effective teaching values the classroom as a learning community in which instructional approaches optimize learning for all students. Contrary to the principles of an equitable learning environment is the use of "me" language by teachers, a practice that promotes the role of teacher as high status and inadvertently excludes students from the…

Relates one participant's impressions of an international conference on writing that was held in May 1979 at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Notes the differences between American and British writing research. (RL)

Discusses the individualization of instruction as it relates to learner characteristics, instructional environment, instructional treatment, and their interaction. Practical considerations for learners, instructional treatments, and learning outcomes emanating from the literature on aptitude-treatment interaction are suggested. (RAO)

The usefulness of"memory" is being questioned as a concept for explaining the facts of remembering. The brain is an extensive and elaborate switching system for organizing sensory inputs from environmental situations and for generating appropriate and properly timed responses to them. The learning of knowledge consists of learning a…

Several different conceptions of the relationship between learning and development are considered in this article. It is argued that dialectical and ecological developmental orientations might provide a useful basis for synthesizing the contrasting frameworks of the operant, information processing, learning theory, and knowledge acquisition…

Argues that epistemological beliefs of community college students can impact their learning processes. Explains that epistemological beliefs interact with other knowledge structures. Reports on a study that explores the association between students' epistemological beliefs and learning processes. Suggests there are relationships between Fixed…

Learning-centered teaching involves adopting teaching methods such as student-centered learning, active learning, didactic teaching, and problem-based learning where they are appropriate. Describes this process and makes recommendations. (Author/CCM)

It is frequently claimed that learning "how to learn" is more important than what is learned. On the other hand, many are more concerned with the mastery of content. The tendency to regard knowledge and skills as two different things is examined and it is argued that they are related phenomena, not separate entities. (Author/JMD)

Written by teachers, the chapters in this book show how writing fosters learning in math, science, English, social studies, foreign language, philosophy, psychology, and art. Following an introduction by Anne Ruggles Gere, the first chapter, "Writing to Learn: The Nurse Log Classroom," by Steve Pearse, presents a comprehensive overview…

Without opportunities to acquire multiple forms of literacy, children will be handicapped in their ability to participate in the legacies of their culture. The forms in which thinking occurs should not be subjected to the status differences and inequities of society. (MLW)

Discussion about the nature and varieties of mathematical understanding is presented. Symbolic understanding is defined as a mutual assimilation between a symbol system and a conceptual structure, that is dominated by the conceptual structure. (MP)

One strategy to prevent confusion as new paradigms emerge is to have professionals in the area develop and use a standard model of the phenomenon in question. The development and use of standard models in physics, genetics, archaeology, and cosmology have been very productive. The cognitive revolution in psychology and education has produced a…

The notion that second language instruction is more effective if begun at an early age is seen as arising from cognitive-nativist and neuropsychological postulates, and from the argument of "affective purity." Each of these positions is reviewed, along with frequently-heard objections to each. A fresh perspective on the issue is thus…

In Asimov's scenario of the future, the percentage of older people will increase and computer technology will relieve humanity of many tasks. The concept of education as a lifelong, natural, and enjoyable process will thus become paramount, and university extension and continuing education institutions will be challenged to meet the needs of an…