Argues that there is evidence documenting the need for improvement of university and community college instruction in critical reading and thinking. Describes programs offered to improve such skills. Argues that universities and colleges need to strike a balance between the skills approach and the more general contextual approach. (RS)

Argues that writing promotes engagement with a text, leading to better comprehension, and that writing tasks should vary depending on the nature of the reading task. (RAE)

This bibliography contains 36 annotations of resources in the ERIC database (ranging from 1983 to 1989) concerning study skills, note-taking, test-taking, and other organizational skills. The first section of this bibliography provides resources for developing good study habits, how to change study behavior, allocating study time, and study…

A rationale for counselors instructing students in study skills is presented in this fact sheet and research and assessment are discussed. A section on instructional content focuses on reading, notetaking, test taking, and time management. Three behavior modification techniques and three study skills instruction formats are discussed. The Study…

Critical thinking is a major goal of social studies education. Teachers need to know what critical thinking is before they can successfully incorporate the skill into their teaching strategies. Understanding why critical thinking is a major goal of education in a free society helps teachers prepare students to be informed and rational participants…

Researchers have long debated on whether note-taking results in improved student performance on tests. Over the years, researchers have tried to verify that note-taking helps students "encode" the information involved and that notes are valuable as materials for review. C. C. Crawford's 1925 study concluded that taking notes was better…

Integrating metacognitive skills into classroom instruction can help students to develop into active, independent readers and learners. B. Armbruster, in a summary of research on metacognition, examined reading to learn from a metacognitive perspective as it related to four variables: texts, tasks, strategies, and learner characteristics.…

This book, one of a series, focuses on help with homework. The message of the series urges parents and children to spend time together, talk about stories, and learn together. The first part of each book presents stories appropriate for varying grade levels, both younger children and those in grades three and four, and each book presents stories…

Presents 26 annotations from the ERIC database on using study guides, advance organizers, and other concept development strategies. Offers journal articles and material appropriate for secondary grades and college students. (SR)

Techniques to enable high school students to improve their test performance are briefly outlined. The techniques cover pre-test preparation, strategies for use during test administration, and special skills for multiple-choice and essay tests. An advantage of students practicing their test-taking skills is that it will help them manage the anxiety…

Synthesizes documents from the ERIC database concerning the research paper as an effective tool in developing communication and study skills, and suggests strategies for helping students successfully research and write a paper. (RS)

This digest discusses what research says about learning strategies and how teachers can teach learning strategies. A learning strategy is defined as an individual's way of reorganizing and using a particular set of skills in order to learn content or accomplish other tasks more effectively and efficiently in school and nonacademic settings.…

The increase in adult, minority, women, part-time, and displaced students attending community colleges has caused the roles of community college counselors to shift from an "in loco parentis" emphasis on personal counseling, vocational guidance and social support to new roles as student developers and learning agents. As student…

Intended to provide current sources of information about college reading selected from the many citations of material in the ERIC database, this 22-item bibliography offers research about college reading, the reading process, and strategies of instruction. The bibliography also includes references to discussions of specific content area study…

This digest presents information for parents regarding science and math homework. The benefits of homework are discussed and guidelines for gauging the amount of time spent on homework are given. Suggestions for family policies and procedures for helping children complete homework assignments are also presented. (WRM)