For the forty-second time, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Proceedings of AECT's Convention are published in two volumes. Volume 1 contains 37 papers dealing…

Teachers of elementary-grade deaf students make mistakes which can handicap communication by setting up less than optimal visual conditions. Four areas need to be considered: angle of regard, size of communication frame, rate of communication, and placement of teaching materials. (SBH)

Indicates that a substantial number of subjects studied show visual-perceptual deficit and presents five practical suggestions for the education of these children. (RB)

The use of a nonvisual tactual and auditory tutorial method to teach initial reading skills to 16 reading disabled children (ages 7 to 14) was evaluated. The method was shown to be less effective than sighted methods. (DB)

Discusses research which compared the performance of children with reading disabilities to the performance of normal readers, matched for age and reading level, in a backward-masking letter-identification and localization task. (JM)

The author discusses the role of educational "crutches" that help elementary learning disabled children in tasks involving spatial orientation, visual perception, and auditory short-term memory. Teachers are cautioned to observe how children act in different situations and to allow them whatever "crutches" are effective. (CL)

Presented is information designed to help teachers identify visual perception difficulties and provide remediation for elementary school students. Sections cover the following topics: diagnosis of visual perception skills in reading; visual perceptual factors and their relation to school success; and definition and activities for figure-ground…

Results indicated no interaction between modality preference and reading method. The visual method of teaching resulted in higher achievement regardless of modality preference; however, children with an auditory modality preference were generally superior in achievement compared to those with a visual preference. (Author)

The paper reviewed 15 studies investigating the interaction between perceptual modality preference and method of teaching reading. (Author)

In a theoretical and philosophical discussion, the author examines the results of two drawing exercises he used with elementary students. Exercise One, "blind contour" drawing from life, was based on child-centered art learning theory. Exercise Two, copying an artwork, emphasized the learning of graphic conventions and cultural forms. (SJL)

Reports that complex abstractions may be easily acquired by persons of less than 75 IQ if the method of presentation of the abstractions ensures maximum visibility of relevant details. (FL)

In a study, kindergarten and third grade students were given handwriting copying practice using different perceptual prompts to reproduce model letter forms. Results indicate that groups trained with perceptual prompts produced more accurate reproductions. (Author/JN)

Eighteen science activities that help children learn to use their senses are described. Multisensory activities and single-sensory activities are provided. Each activity includes a list of materials, the procedure, information for the teacher, questions, and a vocabulary list of words often used by children to describe what is taking place. (KR)

Methods for teaching pupils to use their senses to explore colors, shapes, textures, and sounds of the great outdoors are described. Ideas include: (1) having children hug their own special tree; (2) looking for geometric shapes in nature; (3) taking nocturnal nature walks; (4) building a track for racing insects; and (5) collecting objects with…