Suggests the following small group activities for improving reading comprehension: (1) introductory activities; (2) studying symbolic episodes; (3) synthesizing ideas within a literary unit; and (4) weaning students from teacher dependence. (JAD)

Discusses some difficulties in teaching the concept of voltage to secondary school students. Presents and describes the content of a teaching sequence introducing voltage as a primary concept through relationships with other variables. Provides an example of the delivery of the teaching model. (YP)

Five women university students' representations of their learning were analyzed and related to their on-going adaptations to course demands. Representations involved their goals, working plans and perceptions of difficulties. Qualitative data from students' accounts were tabulated schematically in relation to Duncker's concepts of productive…

Overviews the development of assessment practices, including "pupil profiling" of the 1970s and the "record of achievement" movement of the 1980s, and their impact on current student evaluation practices in Scottish schools. Criticizes current assessment efforts for stressing accountability and competition rather than focusing…

Discusses the impact of information technology on learning and teacher education and outlines a scenario for the use of information technology in education in Malaysia, including online systems and an experimental computer-integrated learning system. Interactive computer systems used in the Open University (United Kingdom) are described. (Contains…

Examined the effects of science curricula organized around topical and causal styles of discourse on 46 eighth graders. Found that students taught with the causal style of discourse had significantly higher retention rates and could better apply their knowledge to problem-solving exercises than students taught with the topical style. (MDM)

Proposes the technique of group discussions in the learning of mathematics. Examines the teacher's role in creating an environment that encourages student participation; presents four techniques to initiate discussions in elementary school classes; and offers five attributes teachers need to develop in students for effective discussions. (MDH)

Self-evaluation is a learning strategy that can help college students, particularly nontraditional students, build coherence through their educational experiences. Faculty need to approach students' reflective, self-evaluative writing as learners, listening to what students say and using it as a guide to aid student development. (MSE)

Assists teachers involved in bilingual instruction in improving their understanding of two aspects of bilingual development: interlanguage and of code-switching. Both are natural and creative outgrowths of being bilingual, i.e., alternative forms created by the cognitive/conceptual synthesis of two languages. (30 references) (CK)

Reviews theoretical arguments from a longitudinal study of 1 Dutch child (age 3;8.13 at start) for considering production as a source of input for analysis and presents empirical evidence supporting the output-as-input hypothesis for the blending of the Dutch words "wats" and "iets." Evidence suggests the child analyzed his own…

Discusses knowledge utilization processes, from general studies on utilization of research to a focus on those specific to educational settings. Factors that can facilitate the use of knowledge in school are examined. (50 references) (AEF)

Describes the development of a long-term plan for the transformation of literacy practices in a small K-8 school district. Discusses the superintendent's role in facilitating the change process. Appends a sample project action plan presented to the board of education and three sample school board presentations. (SR)

Maintains that efforts to link the arts for educational purposes have been made since the 1960s. Proposes three approaches to link visual art, dance, music and other aesthetic endeavors into one course. Concludes that, although integrating the arts is more work, the motivation for doing so rests on improved student learning. (CFR)

Presents an alternate form of assignment, called "Special Problems," that incorporates writing in journals into the mathematics classroom. The method requires students to provide process narratives to accompany selected homework exercises. Allows the teacher to monitor the student's thought processes and development. (MDH)

The distance education program offered by the University of Oklahoma was studied to determine the impact of telecommunications media upon learning outcomes. Comparison of the attitudes and achievement of students enrolled in the telecommunications course and a control group showed no differences in learning between the groups at any level. (18…