Instructive feedback, which incorporates extra information and instruction in responses to students' work, appears to produce quantifiable strides in learning. Peer feedback has its limitations, but can effectively promote student-centered learning, encourages students to produce their work for a larger audience, and frees overworked teachers form…

In this interview with Executive Editor Ron Brandt, Bloom answers criticisms of mastery learning and explains why he believes it is so important. (Author/JM)

The authors purport that before teaching tasks to individuals with severe learning problems, it may be necessary to deliberately plan for and systematically evaluate the factors of selective attention, information feedback, retention, and generalization for each lesson. (Author/SBH)

Four studies are offered from a Piagetian perspective on providing children with an optimal microcomputer environment. Guidelines stress the importance of flexibility, and a hierarchical software environment. (CL)

Argues that the first and primary focus of assessment should be the learner and that student feedback on their learning process and the inclusion of any presentations, products, or exhibitions produced along the way are essential. The author presents personal experiences using this assessment practice involving an English class. (GR)

Explores two approaches (theoretical representation versus a modeling exercise based on artificial neurological networks) to a problem in organizational design: fitting together constraints making hierarchy advantageous with those favoring organizational learning. The modeling approach expands the scope of traditional theorizing about practice.…

Recent research has revealed remarkable data about the intricacies of brain-based learning and the integration of this knowledge into the academic setting. Prudent educators can create a brain-friendly classroom by developing an emotionally and physically safe environment, using laughter and simple exercises to eliminate mental cobwebs, creating…

Considers the way people create knowledge, the way personal knowledge grows, and the types of educative environments that are supportive to students' efforts to improve their knowledge. (GT)

Computers can provide four kinds of help to practicing writers: (1) data storage and retrieval, (2) computer-assisted instruction and text feedback, (3) utility or word processing programs, and (4) telecommunications capability. Writing teachers must incorporate certain values into the planning of computer applications in the writing curriculum.…

Examines the values and purposes of homework and reviews pertinent literature on the topic. Instructional design theory is described and used as a theoretical base to suggest that homework can be a valid component of the learning process to stimulate recall, provide feedback, assess performance, and enhance retention and transfer. (36 references)…

Assesses the classroom environment to determine effectiveness of learning groups and offers suggestions for developing a "good" class, diagnosing peer interactions, and developing feedback between teachers and students. (Author/DB)

Research findings on effective learning are limited, since mental activity is covert and learning can only be inferred from subsequent responses. Integrating such concepts as ability, motivation, self-efficacy, and perseverance is difficult. The respective roles of modeling, expectations, instruction, and feedback are not well understood.…

Interest is examined in relation to its role in the learning process. A broadly based model of learning is presented, and implications of the model for the educational context are considered. In the framework presented, learning involves the perception, interpretation, and storage of information about the environment under particular motivational…

Discusses the nature and function of formative assessment in the development of students' expertise for evaluating the quality of their own work. Highlights include the transition from teacher-supplied feedback to learner self-monitoring; qualitative judgments; communicating standards to students; multicriterion judgments; and implications for the…

Discussion of how to integrate computers into the classroom focuses on seven principles of instruction: (1) mastery learning; (2) overlearning and automaticity; (3) cooperative learning; (4) monitoring student progress; (5) immediate feedback; (6) learning styles; and (7) classroom management. Guidelines for using computers to support the…