Children and youth are available to learn when they are ready to engage with people, absorb information, and pay attention to what is occurring around them. They are alert, attentive, and interested but not overstimulated. Optimizing availability for learning involves a systematic analysis and understanding of the internal and external factors…

Given the complexity of societal, technological, and economic challenges encountered by schools and teachers, one may wonder whether and how teachers can still optimally motivate their students. To adopt a motivating role in today's ever-changing, even stormy, educational landscape, teachers need more than a checklist of motivating practices. They…

In recent years, the use of English corpora to instruct grammar in writing classes has become increasingly popular. In English for Specific Purposes classes, such a novel approach is critically important since it not only allows teachers to achieve a profound understanding of which syntactic structures should be instructed, but it also increases…

This paper describes application of innovative practice and procedures in relationship to recognized principles and theory of adult education used in college math instruction. Adult learning principles provide the theoretical constructs and foundation of the practice supporting a learner-centered approach to learning. The purpose was to explore…

This paper reviews research literature in the area of student engagement to discover curricular and pedagogical ideas educators might successfully use to better engage student learning. Student engagement has historically focused upon increasing achievement, positive behaviors, and a sense of belonging to help students remain in school. The…

The quality framework summarises and elaborates on the provisions in the Education Act and its regulations, including the National Curriculum, and must be considered in light of the legislation and regulations. The quality framework helps to clarify the responsibilities the school owners (the local and county administration authorities in…

Recommendations are given for colleges wishing to develop adult education programs, including information sources and program ideas. A nontraditional weekend program developed at Saint Xavier College as a time-intensive baccalaureate curriculum is described. (MSE)

Discusses a case of language program revitalization at a major metropolitan university. Results of a pilot study aimed at assessing students' needs and redefining the goals and objectives of a traditional French program are presented. (Author/VWL)

A model for integrating motivational activities into instruction and the problem with motivational activities in the classroom for the disadvantaged learner are examined. Eight basic learning processes are identified that the teacher should understand in preparation for presenting information to students: attention/reception, selective perception,…

Discusses the educational applications of experimental psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of peak experience, or optimal flow. Optimal flow refers to the receptive state people achieve when they are engaged in interesting and challenging activity. Includes an insightful critique of multimedia instruction from this perspective. (MJP)

Discusses how adult general education liberal arts requirements do not help adult students and how they may actually discourage students. Discusses alternative courses instituted by the University without Walls (UWW) program that provide lifelong learning activities incorporating liberal arts skills and knowledge with experiential learning. (JS)

This article discusses the story of a middle school teacher and her reading class frustrations. She faces the reality that her class of 23 students hates reading, despite her enthusiasm and attempts to motivate them. However, she discovered that the literacy program she was using was not the way she had been taught in her preservice classes or the…

The needs and motivation of short-term ESL students and immigrants are contrasted, and the wide variety of programs and services needed for immigrant English instruction is emphasized. Aspects of ESL instruction that need changing or restructuring include adult and community education, teacher training and examination, and innovative educational…

To create a supportive environment for the slow and reluctant learner teachers must solicit student responses, provide proximity, positively reinforce answers, provide time to respond, and give corrective feedback. This document describes inservice training designed to help teachers improve their ability to maintain a supportive learning…