Discusses audit trails (i.e., records of learner responses) in interactive multimedia and hypermedia instruction. Topics addressed include four purposes of audit trails, including formative evaluation in instructional design, basic research, usage studies, and counseling and advising; advantages and limitations of the audit trail approach; and…

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)…

A discussion of the liberal arts'"great books," specifically in political philosophy, reflects on the value of the core curriculum, the value of expanding the traditional canon, the use of reading to learn, results of true learning, and the danger of shunning works traditionally seen as important. (MSE)

Compared effects of peer-delivered (PDF) and self-delivered (SDF) immediate corrective feedback intervention on multiplication performance of six second grade students. SDF resulted in greater multiplication performance for four of six students, suggesting that SDF interventions may be more efficient and less obtrusive than PDF interventions and…

The planning of an introductory calculus textbook in classical mechanics is shown as an example of an approach to textbook design that uses four main cognitive categories: sources of learning, instruments of learning, processes of knowing, and mechanisms of knowing. The aspects, domains, description, and elements of each section of the textbook…

The performance of two groups of chemistry students, one taught using the traditional lecture method and the other interactive, in solving stoichiometry problems is described. The interactive instruction appears more effective for students who are less adept at information processing. The interaction apparently does not challenge better students,…

Discussion of elements in the learning process focuses on an analytical framework to assist in the selection of educational technology that will support the learning process. Highlights include a comparison of print, video, computer-based tutorial, and teacher-student discussion and the use of multimedia in the Open University (United Kingdom).…

George Dunlop saw the need for a scholarly outlet for educational research in Alberta, helped establish the "Alberta Journal of Educational Research," and actively fostered educational research at the University of Alberta until his death in 1966. Dunlop awards are presented for outstanding master's theses and doctoral dissertations by…

Trends such as technological innovation, downsizing, self-managed teams, and continuous learning imply that in continuing education technical content must be considered in the context in which skills are used. Knowledge of learning processes and workplace socialization suggests that formal training and informal learning must be integrated to…

Study examined whether kindergartners were capable of reflecting on their thinking processes to make self-assessments. Evaluations of audiotapes made during whole-group activities indicated that when children were given opportunities to talk and express their metacognitive skills, they took charge of their own learning and became confident,…

Research over four decades supports the learning effectiveness of interdisciplinary curricula. Emphasizing interrelationships across the curriculum creates powerful learning opportunities that help students find relevance in course content and become more actively engaged in learning. This special issue addresses teacher preparation for…

The errors and strategies made by students who consistently use the incorrect-addition strategy on "hard" ratio tasks were investigated. The characteristics of these "adders," such as awareness of noninteger multiples, the use of fractions and decimals, awareness of both within and between ratios, and distinguishing nonratio…

Results of a systematic investigation into university students' (n=236) misunderstandings of d.c. simple circuit operations are reported. These results provide evidence of various misconceptions present before and after teaching the following topics: a battery as a source of constant current; the functional relation expressed by Ohm's law; power…

An attempt to portray the nature of the learning task in university engineering courses is presented. Introductory courses are described first and are then compared to the upper level courses. Emphasis is put on three introductory courses to determine what skills students bring into the introductory course, what the learning task is, and how…

It is difficult for students to unlearn misconceptions that have been unknowingly reinforced by teachers. The examples "multiplication makes bigger,""pi equals 22/7," and the use of counter examples to demonstrate the numerical property of closure are discussed as potential areas where misconceptions are fostered. (MDH)