Student mastery of the academic vocabulary of course content is an important component of learning that content. This research study investigated the combination of two active multimedia strategies within 10 different high school science classrooms, to test for retention of science terminology. The dual process of learner-generated drawings…

Teaching new biology concepts to ninth graders can be tough, and teaching students with disabilities even tougher--but we are accountable for "all" students. These authors used a cooperative learning strategy called "Collaborative Strategic Reading" in an inclusive ninth-grade biology class to see whether they could "hook" students and, at the…

This research work examined the impact of a science-reading instructional sequence ("InSciRead") on fourth-grade Spanish-English dual language learners' ability to monitor their comprehension of content-related (erosion, deposition, and transportation) texts. We used a quantitative measure of students' ability to detect incongruities in a related…

Provides details of an advanced cell biology course that has as its overall design the critical reading and examination of primary literature. Contains guidelines to assist students in critical reading. (DDR)

Examines the effectiveness of using questions to facilitate processing of diagrams in science texts. Investigates three different elements in experiments on college students. Finds that questions about illustrations do not facilitate learning. Discusses findings with reference to cognitive load theory, the dual coding perspective, and the…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the SQ3R study skill technique in the science education of sixth grade students. Subjects, 30 students in a control group and 19 students in the experimental group comprising two separate classrooms in a culturally mixed urban elementary school, used the science text "Gateways to Science" and…

This study examined middle school students' reported awareness of strategic approaches they used when they had difficulty reading science text. Student responses indicated that they used text and social context to resolve comprehension difficulties but that they were largely unaware of the use of prior knowledge for the same purpose. (SM)

Explains how teaching study skills using real content area materials was accomplished in an eighth-grade remedial reading class. Investigates student performance in social studies and science classes. Finds that students improved both the self-report of study habits and their grades in social studies and science classes. (RS)

Compares mnemonic imagery and traditional study strategies on enhancing students' recall of scientific expository text material. Finds that keywords and their mnemonic images can be helpful for above average students in facilitating recall of content information given sufficient instruction and practice time. (RS)

A study examined the effect of three different prereading vocabulary development strategies on sixth grade science test results. Subjects, 81 sixth-grade students from a suburban, middle-class school in Union County, New Jersey, were divided into four heterogeneous science classes and given a pretest of 40 vocabulary words taken from the science…

Describes a classroom technique designed to inject an interactive discussion framework into the classroom and to focus students' attention on reading and absorbing information from a textbook. (DDR)

It has been alleged that few American students can use their knowledge effectively in thinking and reasoning. This study urges teachers to give more attention to student abilities in analyzing, classifying, comparing, formulating hypotheses, and drawing conclusions--that is, thinking skills essential to reasoning processes. Designed to familiarize…

Discusses the lack of study skills found among non-science majors. Provides examples of how science courses differ from other courses. Gives some methods to help students study more effectively. (MVL)

A study evaluated the effects of a 5-week study strategies program called RAVES (Read, Answer, Vocabulary, Examples, Share) designed to help intermediate students understand and recall information presented in expository text. Subjects, 156 fifth and sixth grade students enrolled in suburban Maryland science classes, read a section of expository…

Project CAPABLE (Classroom Action Program: Aim: Basic Learning Efficiency) is a classroom approach which integrates the basic learning skills with content. The goal of the project is to use basic learning skills to enhance the learning of content and at the same time use the content to teach basic learning skills. These monthly reports explain how…