Examines the navigational profiles of 42 undergraduate students processing a hypertext document. Three profiles emerged: (1) knowledge seekers, (2) feature explorers, and (3) apathetic hypertext users. Results indicate that students who are interested in computers and hypertext but who don't possess relevant amounts of domain knowledge aligned…

The effects on the learning process of the strategies of contextualization, personalization, and provision of choices for enhancing students intrinsic motivation were studied with 72 fourth and fifth graders in one control and four experimental conditions. All three strategies produced increases in student motivation and in engagement in learning.…

The evaluation of a portfolio-based assessment course in a traditional teacher education program is described, focusing on elements of the course, aims of instruction, the power of portfolios to enhance student learning, and problems that may occur with portfolio use. The development of the course over three years is traced. (SLD)

The psychometric characteristics of the Henderson Environmental Learning Process Scale (HELPS) were studied with 385 parents of school-aged children. Factor analysis provided a conceptually meaningful six-factor solution, but internal consistency reliabilities of scores on three factors were unacceptably low. With some modifications, the HELPS…

The type of professional community found within a school and its consequences for teachers' sense of responsibility for student learning were studied at 24 elementary, middle, and secondary schools through questionnaires completed by 910 teachers and interviews with 144. Results suggest wide variation in professional community among schools. (SLD)

Draws upon a longitudinal research project that focused on learning career transformations. Explains that the study initially involved Year 11 students (n=79) from secondary schools in England. Focuses specifically on the case of student Amanda Ball, considering the implications for understanding learning. Includes references. (CMK)

Designed a questionnaire and created a scale measuring studying and learning based on motivation with items answered from ideal, "capability," and studying and learning behavior perspectives. Results for 372 Australian college students support the view that striving for excellence, desire to learn, and personal incentives are important…

Shares ideas related to music instruction that were discovered as part of the author's instructional theory. Focuses on topics such as the reasons for teaching music, the role of music, and where and when learning takes place. Provides further general discussion on learning and talks about instructional theory. (CMK)

More public institutions are now required to assess student learning outcomes. A look at Virginia and New Jersey shows these requirements vary, but mandated assessment may not produce needed improvements. Inadequate assessment methodologies, faculty resistance, and a lack of clarity about the use of results make this movement uncertain.…

The most effective means for obtaining knowledge about how students learn requires having two faculty members working together--one teaches and the other observes. Both the teacher and the observer interview students. These interviews yield information about how the students conceive the subject matter and how they respond to it. (MLW)

Argues for a new approach to empirical work which focuses on classroom thoughtfulness. Proposes a conception of higher-order thinking that synthesizes theoretical literature with the views of practitioners. Offers a conceptual basis for empirical study of classrooms, teachers, students, and institutional leaders. (GG)

An extension of the multidimensional Rasch model for learning and change is presented that permits theories of processes and knowledge structures to be incorporated into the item response model. The extension resolves basic problems in measuring change and permits adaptive testing. The method is illustrated in a study of mathematical problem…

Ninety-three elementary school children were interviewed about fairness of selected practices for influencing motivation to learn. Responses reflected their purposes for learning and their definitions of learning. Children held diverse views and valued different rewards, suggesting that teachers should treat students as thoughtful moral agents…

The four articles in this journal present a case study of reflection and communication in learning mathematics; an examination of elaborative interrogation; a study of effects of learning style, study tasks, and instruction; and an assessment of argumentative skills among Finnish university students. (SLD)

Reviews seven books: (1) "Cross-Cultural Psychology" (Berry and others); (2) "Biological Asymmetry and Handedness" (Bock and Marsh); (3) "Interpersonal and Identity Development" (Vandenplas-Holper and Campus); (4) "Natural Theories of Mind" (Whitten); (5) "The Psychological Examination of the…