Placing education majors in field-based experiences before student teaching has become a common practice in teacher preparation. Two introductory education courses offered at Northwest Missouri State University were designed to provide education majors with classroom experiences early in their program of study. The courses, Observation and…

This guide provides teacher educators and staff developers with strategies to enhance the reflective thinking abilities of preservice and inservice educators. Strategies for reflective thinking are approached at three levels: technical, contextual, and dialectical. Within each level, strategies have been field tested with populations of preservice…

This book offers alternative approaches for local hiking events, such as creating extensive science, math or art projects, in order to energize a group of children. Chapter 1, "Getting Started," provides details on planning a hike, including getting supports, managing materials, setting the tone, questioning techniques, basic ecological…

This is a continuation of the report on a study of skill retention (observation and comparison) in junior high school students. (See SE 511 538 for additional information.) Reported in this article is an investigation to determine if the skills retained could be transferred to a new set of scientific objects. Results appeared to show that both…

The role of reinforcement has long been an issue in learning theory. The effects of reinforcement in learning were investigated under circumstances which made the information necessary for correct performance equally available to reinforced and nonreinforced subjects. Fourth graders (N=36) were given a pre-test of 20 items from the Peabody Picture…

This speech outlines what the adolescent should know about the physical, social and emotional needs and development of young children from birth to six years. Topics suggested for presentation to high school students include understanding and coping with physiological processes, providing a safe and stimulating environment, and understanding and…

This experiment was designed to assess whether the expected and actual performance of black and white students on an academic task would be differentially affected by the race of the successful models observed. Since males and females might not be equally influenced by the modeling effects, separate analyses were planned for males and females of…

A considerable body of knowledge has been built around the concepts of imitation and observational learning. The purpose of this monograph is to introduce the rehabilitation practitioner to this information and to discuss its implications for and uses in rehabilitation practice. First, we will define imitation and observational learning and…

On the annual Young Farmer Tours conducted by the Agricultural Education Department of Oklahoma State University, approximately 40 Vo-Ag teachers and local Young Farmers view well-established, viable Young Farmer programs in neighboring States. The tours convince Oklahoma teachers that commitment of resources to adult education will produce…

Describes career guidance center programs in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, high schools, with career experts and multimedia materials as sources of information about occupations, business tours, training in preparing for job interviews, and observational experiences in the business world. A preliminary minicourse provides a personalized career study…

Thirteen subjects (aged 5:6 to 6:6) with language disorders were given elicited imitation and spontaneous language tasks, and their performance was compared among and within subjects. The two procedures produced significantly correlated results for some children but not for others. Analysis of specific syntactic forms also produced variable…

Suggests how simple hikes can be integrated into the elementary school curriculum. Presents nine topic areas that can serve as themes for schoolyard hikes. (ML)

Describes a lesson in which fifth graders made observations of candles. Discusses the progress of the lesson and the necessity of instructing students in what and how to watch and measure. Stresses that this can be easily accomplished inexpensively with imagination. (CW)

The authors discuss activities that help mentally handicapped adults emphasize thinking processes: observation questions, impact chart, solving a puzzling situation, and use of examples/nonexamples. The authors stress use of simple concepts, concrete objects, and realistic situations in developing intellectual skills. (CT)

Reviews literature on effects of being imitated and the social influence function of imitation, plus related literature on conformity from social psychology. Considers this research within a number of theoretical contexts, especially within the conceptual framework of effectance motivation. Suggests imitation may facilitate mastery and control of…