Mastery grading is an approach to grading in which students are assigned term grades based on whether they meet certain enumerated objectives, rather than accumulating points. In this note, I describe my experiences using a mastery system, which I call techniques grading, which applies the insights behind the standards-based and specifications…

Experimental courses offer a good opportunity to work with competences, promoting the incorporation of strategies oriented towards motivating students to actively involve in the learning process, promoting reflexive learning and developing generic skills. This study presents different ways of developing and evaluating some important general…

This article is primarily designed to provide a cultural analysis of the literature on achievement goals. First, an overview of the four dominant approaches to the study of culture--namely, cross-cultural psychology, cultural psychology, indigenous psychology, and psychological anthropology--is offered. Second, we analyze the extant body of…

This study examined teacher-learners' reflections about the use of video production in their K-12 classrooms for evidence of content learning, the factors facilitating teacher use of video production, and the challenges teachers reported. Findings demonstrated positive content learning outcomes as measured by objective tests, rubrics, and…

For many years computing in New Zealand schools was focused on teaching students how to use computers, and there was little opportunity for students to learn about programming and computer science as formal subjects. In this article we review a series of initiatives that occurred from 2007 to 2009 that led to programming and computer science being…

This study examined whether students with different achievement goal orientation profiles differ in terms of subjective well-being (i.e., self-esteem, depressive symptoms, school-related burnout, and educational goal appraisals). Six groups of students with unique motivational profiles were identified. Observed differences in subjective well-being…

Leaders in business and industry are demanding workers who not only can read and write but can think creatively and critically and solve problems. Federal- and state-funded programs and volunteer organizations are involved with adult literacy. Increasingly, corporations are funding adult literacy projects. Adults read for different reasons than…

This self-instructional learning packet was designed to introduce instructors to the development and writing of learning packets for their own courses. The packet contains seven learning modules, each providing a rationale, learning objectives, a pre-assessment test, informational text, learning activities, and a self-assessment instrument and…

Multi-media instruction needs to be adapted to assist students in achieving objectives of instruction. Multi-media approaches need to stress quality sequence, and also need to provide a meaningful context for student learning. The developers of multi-media class resources should provide for diverse styles of learning and need to develop materials…

Notes that reforms in engineering education have caused a shift from the traditional stand-alone courses in technical communication for engineering students towards communication training integrated in courses and design projects that allows students to develop four levels of competence. Describes three formats for integrated communication…

This lesson plan invites primary students to share their letter/sound knowledge in a small group and gives teachers an opportunity to assess knowledge in a meaningful context. Working with name cards, students share observations about their names and the names of their classmates. Extensions are appropriate for a range of primary-aged students.…

This paper explains the use of intrinsic analysis procedures developed, as part of the Pennsylvania School Improvement Program (PSIP), to evaluate and choose curriculum materials and instructional programs. An intrinsic analysis, as distinct from an evaluation using outcome measures or classroom processes, employs research criteria to make…

The shared writing program described in this lesson engages K-2 students in thinking about the process of learning and the behavioral and community needs which support a productive classroom environment. During the two 30-minute lessons, students will: participate in group discussions about learning; identify and agree on classroom goals and…

This article discusses what happens when students are asked to tell some of what they know about something on which they are experts-- themselves. Students' views of their own learning are shared, and reasons for engaging students in self assessment and goal setting through the use of portfolios are discussed. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/CR)