Describes school libraries in Australia. Highlights include the title of teacher librarian and their education; the history of the role of school libraries in Australian education; empowerment; information skills and benchmarks; national standards for school libraries; information literacy; learning outcomes; evidence-based practice; digital…

Describes a study that involved a search for a model for the teaching of musical composition to students with some prior experience. Recounts in detail the way students approached the task of composing music, and the compositions they produced. Offers several recommendations for reforming composition instruction. (MJP)

Discusses the uses and benefits of Narrative Assisted Instruction (NAI). This technique uses a story or narrative to illustrate specific content instruction thereby increasing student motivation, comprehension, and memory of the material. Uses NAI to illustrate these concepts by recounting the story of the Wild Boy of Aveyron. (MJP)

Describes a systematic instructional process that incorporates the general steps of problem solving to develop a World Wide Web-based independent study course. Highlights include the educational setting, learner characteristics, method of assessment, learning processes, course assignments, interaction between faculty and students, course content,…

Presented is the extent to which pupils of different ages tend to confuse scientific and everyday meanings of "Law" and "Conservation." The concepts of resource economy, environmental concern, and the law of conservation of energy are discussed in terms of potential teaching difficulties. (KR)

Describes a multiple choice, pencil and paper, diagnostic instrument used to measure student understanding of covalent bonding and structure concepts. Reports evidence of seven commonly held misconceptions. (MVL)

Describes the Barbara Taylor Educational Model, developed and implemented in Harlem (New York) and in day care and Head Start programs of the Somerset Community Action Program (New Jersey). Presents case studies illustrating how the model enables students to overcome barriers to their development posed by racism, sexism, and classism. (MW)

Discussion of appropriate feedback in an instructional setting focuses on a study of undergraduates learning graphics materials production techniques that investigated whether internal feedback, provided by an expert system, differed in effectiveness from external feedback, provided by an instructor. The effects of each on processing activities…

Describes study conducted in West Germany that investigated the effects of presentation features and content on learning from television news. Recall, recognition, and comprehension are discussed; illustrated news items are examined; dependent and independent variables are described; and suggestions for further research are given. (33 references)…

Discussion of the process for integrating computer assisted instruction into an existing curriculum emphasizes current practices in Australia. Topics discussed include international trends; administrative aspects; teacher education; writing courseware; curriculum planning; computers in the stages of learning; models of integration; and teaching…

Describes study of fifth and sixth grade Jewish Israeli students that tested the hypothesis that intrinsic motivation will be differentially affected by task-involving and ego-involving evaluation. Three feedback conditions involving grades and individual comments are explained, and results are discussed in terms of student interest and…

Questions must be raised about the nature, value, and use of academic discourse in the national debate on reforming the canon, acknowledging diversity, etc. It is proposed that students be involved in authentic work by immersion in reading, writing, and language and by having opportunities think critically about the material. (Contains 25…

Maintains that the quality of most theology courses is measured by the quality of class discussion. Identifies and discusses philosophical, theological, and educational assumptions that have a bearing on class discussion. Presents strategies to help reinvigorate a stalled discussion. (CFR)

Reports research on teachers' beliefs about children's development. Discusses (1) teachers' estimates of ages at which children succeed on tasks, (2) teachers' ability to engage in task analysis, (3) their view of children's error, and (4) their view of developmental accounts. Concludes that good teachers' beliefs provide an inadequate basis for…

Reports misconceptions identified in students with respect to the topic of parallel lines and the teaching strategies found to be useful in challenging those misconceptions. (11 references) (MDH)