As research-based, self-paced electronic learning tools become increasingly available, a critical issue educators encounter is implementing strategies to ensure that all students engage with them as intended. Here, we first discuss the effectiveness of electronic learning tutorials as self-paced learning tools in large enrollment brick and mortar…

Given an unfamiliar audience, an undervalued skill, and a limited time to present, librarian information specialists need a prescriptive means to generate motivation to learn. Tailoring, more commonly used in health communications, could enhance perceived task attractiveness and relevancy. In a controlled trial, two groups were compared on the…

Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) is an instructional plan which uses units of material and divides classes of students into small groups, each with a "manager" in charge. The manager is one who has taken the course previously; he acts as a chief proctor who gives oral examinations to the first four students who are ready to pass…

A learning center at San Bernardino Valley College was established to diagnose and correct reading deficiencies in their students. The learning center focuses on specific reading skills and uses prescriptive teaching to tailor the method and materials to the individual students. Test scores indicate the particular reading problems the student has,…

A mathematics and science tutorial program at the University of California, San Diego is described to provide a model for other university tutorial programs. Descriptions of the format of various components of the program are provided. Detailed information is also provided on the required tutor training class, tutor and tutee recruitment,…

The BASIC Instructional Program (BIP) is an interactive problem-solving laboratory that offers tutorial assistance to students solving introductory programing problems in the BASIC language. After a brief review of the rationale and origins of the BIP instructional system, the design and implementation of BIP's curriculum information network are…

Conceived by the British Labor Government in the 1960's the Open University was viewed as a way to extend higher education to Britain's working class, but enrollment figures in classes that represent traditional academic disciplines show that the student population is predominantly middle class. Bringing education into the home presents numerous…

An experimental course in organic chemistry utilized computer-assisted instructional (CAI) techniques. The CAI lessons provided tutorial drill and practice and simulated experiments and reactions. The Conversational Language for Instruction and Computing was used, along with a CDC 6400-6600 system; students scheduled and completed the lessons at…