While previous research has documented the unique aspects of Chinese dyslexia as compared to dyslexia in alphabetic scripts, it remains unclear whether the difference in Chinese literacy experiences influences the manifestation of Chinese dyslexia. The present article first reviews the characteristics of Chinese languages and scripts, including…

The pedagogical and theoretical questions addressed in this study relate to the extent to which native Japanese readers with little or no knowledge of Chinese characters recognize Chinese characters that are viewed as abbreviations of the kanji they already know. Three graphic similarity functions (i.e., an orthographically acceptable similarity,…

Research on mechanistic thinking in organic chemistry has shown that students attribute little meaning to the electron-pushing (i.e., curved arrow) formalism. At the University of Ottawa, a new curriculum has been developed in which students are taught the electron-pushing formalism prior to instruction on specific reactions--this formalism is…

In several of his papers, Charles S. Peirce illustrates processes of interpreting and understanding signs by examples from second language vocabulary teaching and learning. The insights conveyed by means of these little pedagogical scenarios are not meant as contributions to the psychology of second language learning, but they aim at elucidating…

Learning the symbolic language of chemistry is a difficult task that can be frustrating for students. This article introduces a game, ChemOkey, that can help students learn the names and symbols of common ions and their compounds in a fun environment. ChemOkey, a game similar to Rummikub, is played with a set of 106 plastic or wooden tiles. The…

James Moffett is revered by many for his contributions to English education, but his interest in discourse and rhetoric led him beyond reform in the language arts curriculum to a vision of a radically reconceived approach to education, one in which disciplinary knowledge is subordinate to the processes of symbolic representation that creates that…

This article reports the findings of a study that investigated the role of graphic novels in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to International Baccalaureate students (aged 15-16) in TED Ankara College Foundation Private High School. Two intact 10th grade classes were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups who studied…

Instructional strategies requiring transmediation, the process of translating meaning from one sign system (such as language) to another (such as pictures), are critical to enquiry-oriented classrooms because learners must invent a connection between the systems. This article, drawing on semiotic theory, explores how transmediation achieves its…

The fundamental goal of music-literacy instruction is to connect sound to symbol. An essential aspect of this process is audiation. Literate musicians make accurate matches between what they audiate and what they visualize. They establish this link by interacting with the symbolic language of music in both directions: translating notation into…

The purpose of this article is twofold. The first objective is to update the traditional craft of education by revising the folk theory of mind that underpins such traditions. This is necessary if we are to develop a new learning science as the cornerstone for the renewal of the education enterprise. The second objective is to highlight the need…

A national survey to determine current lanaguage methods and instructional philosophies indicated that many educators of hearing-impaired children combine various language approaches rather than adhering closely to any one method. Opinions as to the type of symbol system to use and when and how to use them varied greatly. (Author/CL)

Presents a poem suitable for teaching Kenneth Burke's concepts of grammar, rhetoric and symbolic in a literary work and explores three elements in the work. (HTH)

Literature is reviewed on augmentative and alternative communication research and intervention for individuals with severe intellectual disabilities. The review focuses on prerequisites for intervention, symbol systems and sets, computer technology, and teaching strategies. Future research directions are outlined, and clinical and educational…

This study, involving 40 preschool children with normal cognitive abilities, determined the effects of initial teaching of semantic elements on compound Blissymbol acquisition, retention, and generalization in a story-telling context. Results indicated that the initial teaching of elements did not contribute to compound acquisition and retention…

The dual purpose of this paper is to put forward the problem of goal orientation in mathematics education in general and to consider a specific goal that is not seen as central in traditional teaching practice. The goal orientation approach in education aims to construct the teaching process considering the goals of the students, i.e. the expected…