Low achievement on standardized tests may be attributed to many factors, including teaching methods. Differentiated instruction has been identified as a teaching method using different learning modalities that appeal to varied student interests with individualized instruction. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare whole-group…

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of individualized instruction on enrollment, attrition, achievement, and student attitude in a general biology course for non-science majors. Fifteen auto-tutorial minicourses were designed for use in the laboratory part of the course, each consisting of a printed study guide, slide-tape module,…

A personalized competency-based instructional strategy was designed and evaluated as an alternative to the traditional teacher-directed method. There was no difference in mean gain scores between the two groups for cognitive objectives, but the experimental strategy was superior in teaching psychomotor competencies. Student responses to the PSI…

Describes a study comparing learner control and program control, and the effects of giving learners information about their achievements in relation to criterion during instruction. Success was measured in terms of posttest scores, time on task, and number of instructional examples required. References are included. (Author/BK)

Examines the effects of three self-pacing procedures on student withdrawal rate, rate of progress, final examination performance, and attitude in a personalized system of instruction for undergraduate students in an introductory speech course. Benefits of reducing student procrastination are discussed in light of the study's results. (Author/MBR)

Discusses an adaptive diagnostic test used as part of an instructional program in signed-number arithmetic on the PLATO system. Findings indicated that differences in prior and subsequent instructional methods affected the learning of more advanced materials and produced lower achievement scores on posttests. Thirty-two references are listed. (MER)