In 2 experiments, 280 college students studied animations depicting a mechanical operation with concurrent oral narration of the process, successive animation and narration, animation alone, narration alone, or no instruction (the control group). Results are consistent with a dual coding model of retention and problem solving. (SLD)

Discusses the dualism of literacy and education as an individual possession and communally embedded commodity within many segments of the African-American community, drawing on information from 25 adults. Literacy is an ever-changing continuous activity shaped by cultural and community beliefs about the price of education and rewards of learning.…

Explores issues involved in using assessments to define standards and encourage efforts to meet them and compares the European examination system with the American testing system. Also considered are issues of the definition of learning domains in ways that do not encourage narrowly focused training on specific assessment items. (SLD)

A survey of 40 training executives, 37 training specialists, and 39 instructors examined the usefulness of the "What Works" document used by Navy personnel to improve training. A second-phase evaluation with 23 subjects supports the findings of the document's usefulness and value, and provided information to enhance the document. (SLD)

Research of cognitive scientists is resulting in new learning theories through which students can move from novice to expert. How cognitive scientists work and how their results are applied are discussed. Reciprocal teaching, as implemented in the Springfield (Illinois) schools, provides an example of a successful research-based technique. (SLD)

The conceptualization and measurement of student anger is discussed, and results from a study with 248 elementary school students are presented to demonstrate that specific ways of controlling and expressing anger can differentially affect school results. The predictive power of measures of anger and product terms are considered. (SLD)

A cognitive education program applicable across many classroom settings was evaluated with 147 Australian students in grades 4 through 7 who were or were not exposed to the Process-Based Instruction (PBI) approach. Results indicate the positive effects of PBI on student achievement and student and teacher attitudes. (SLD)

Describes and analyzes two science methods courses at the elementary and secondary levels for how they addressed four ideas: (1) how students learn science; (2) how teachers teach science to students; (3) how prospective science teachers learn about the first two ideas; and (4) how methods instructors teach prospective science teachers about the…

Discusses how students acquire curriculum knowledge and beliefs in typical upper-elementary and middle-school social studies and science units, and how the cognitive processes involved in acquiring knowledge are themselves acquired through classroom experiences. Uses evidence from a series of classroom studies to demonstrate how classroom learning…

To meet recently promulgated standards, teachers are challenged to teach more rigorous, extensive subject-area content, develop varied instructional strategies, and reach a wider range of students. Teachers should be guided by a high-quality curriculum characterized by academic rigor, equity, and developmental responsiveness. (MLH)

Examines a music teacher in a second-grade classroom in order to determine how the instructor taught and how the students learned. Identifies four themes related to the nature of teacher expertise and five themes on student learning. Reports that the teacher understood these issues and utilized the information to change teaching styles. (CMK)

To understand which factors predict effective school leadership teams, researchers analyzed survey data from 71 elementary and 71 secondary schools with 1 year of training. The strongest predictor of ability to focus on teaching and learning was use of collected school data to identify needs and guide decisions. (Contains 77 references.) (MLH)

Introduces the Instructional Technology Project (ITP) which provides universal, 24 hours/7 days a week Internet access to both students and faculty and incorporates technology into the curriculum. Uses five different modules involving technology that include e-mail, electronic discussion board, CD-ROM and multimedia, internet browsers, and…

Reviews the academic literature of distance education that has considered whether the media and technologies of education affect learning and finds the conventional answer is in the negative. Also describes this issue in literature in the following fields: neurology, mass communications, and feminist approaches to the situated nature of knowledge.…

Asserts that formal education should impart tacit knowledge--a complex set of understandings one must possess to live and function successfully in society--as well as traditional disciplines, theories, and cognitive skills. Discusses modeling attitudes, values, ways of life, and democracy to students, and what should be expected of a particular…