Today's language classroom is vastly different from that of the mid- to late 20th century. The study is a meta-analysis of recent research which provided the means to identify current and emerging trends in the field. Informed by this research, some identified trends that are shaping the 21st century language classroom are outdated practices such…

The Flavell (l981) model of cognitive monitoring and metamnemonic development was tested by four experiments conducted to determine whether preschool children (1) recognize that mood, fatigue, and fear are variables that influence learning; and (2) self-monitor their internal states and adjust their study behavior when they are sad or tired. (NH)

This study with 16 adolescents with mental retardation compared free-recall rates under two encoding conditions: (1) fade-in, initially presenting pictures out of focus then slowly fading them into focus; and (2) fade-out, slowly blurring originally clear pictures. Results indicated that free-recall rates were greater for the fade-in items for…

The accuracy of recall and use of appropriate rehearsal strategies was compared for learning-disabled and low-achieving adolescents. There was little difference in performance between the two groups; both groups tended to employ appropriate executive strategies. (Author/DB)

Two rule-based (truncation and contraction) abbreviation expansion encoding methods and 1 non-rule-based (random) method were evaluated for learning curve and retrieval speed with 66 adults. The truncation method resulted in faster retrieval than the other two methods. Results have implications for training users of augmentative communication…

The type of cognitive processing most beneficial to memory may depend on the structure of the material and the type of retrieval test required. Relational encoding organizes words by their relationships, while item-specific encoding processes words on an individual basis. To obtain information on these cognitive processes as they relate to the use…

Three experiments demonstrate that children four to ten years old, when presented with a series recall task with pictures of common objects having short or long names, showed consistently better recall of pictures with short names. (HOD)

This study investigated taxonomic clustering and use of frequency associations as features in the semantic memory of children (n=30 in grades two and six) with learning disabilities (LD). Results suggested that, when individual child-generated word lists (i.e., meaningful) are used, children with LD may not be impaired in their ability to utilize…

Comparison of three learning strategies (elaborative interrogation, spontaneous strategy, or repetition control) with 53 high achievers in grades 5 and 6 found that both elaborative interrogation and spontaneous strategy conditions were equally effective and both were superior to the repetition condition. (DB)

Presents study results examining conditions in which children can apply a previously learned memorization strategy to new but analogous tasks. Concludes that strategy mastery during training is not sufficient. Reports that only subjects who use information about relations between procedures and results to construct generalizable knowledge are able…

Describes four experiments to show that the effects of item-specific and relational encoding emphasis on recall vary with the retrieval context for both young children and adults. (HOD)

This study with 56 learning-disabled adolescents found that intensive generalization training specific to the development of complex mnemonic strategies was demonstrably more effective in recall at 1-day and 2-week intervals than a rehearsal condition. No added advantage was gained by adding attribution training to the mnemonic generalization…

Proposes a criterion for selecting a sequence of objectives from a learning hierarchy and describes a sequence generating algorithm which is designed to generate a minimal memory load sequence from a learning tree. Its effectiveness in generating low memory load sequences from hierarchies that are not trees is also discussed. (RP)

Myth is integral to modern as well as ancient societies in its service to multiple interrelated social functions. Among these are to explain phenomena and direct action, to justify particular interests or practices, to dramatize ideals, and to provide cultural cohesion. Three prevailing myths that are especially problematic are the myths of…

Although the distinction between verbal ability and spatial ability is fundamental in all models of human abilities, differences in the relative strengths of verbal and spatial abilities have failed to show consistent interactions with instructional treatments. This study investigated the hypothesis that spatial tests measure different abilities…