A study of learner modality in second language learning conducted at a small, private liberal arts university had as subjects 20 freshmen in a second-semester Spanish course. The students' modality strength (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or mixed) was correlated with Scholastic Aptitude Test measures, grades, and gender. The findings support…

In response to practical questions about bilingual student needs, this paper addresses three issues. First, it describes a conceptual framework identified as "educational cognitive style" whereby the characteristics of bilingual learners and the modes of understanding of an educational task can be modeled and therefore matched. Second, it…

A literature search identified 39 studies assessing modality preferences and modality teaching. The studies, involving 3,087 disabled and nondisabled elementary/secondary level subjects, were quantitatively synthesized. Subjects receiving differential instruction based on modality preferences exhibited only modest gains. (Author/JDD)

The transformation from active to passive voice is analyzed by the student according to a sequence of specific "rules", analagous to the steps one might use to program a computer to perform the same transformation. (DD)

In a college biology class, a correlational study was used to describe the relationship between preferred learning styles (determined by the Modified Hill Cognitive Style Inventory), the use of videotapes, and test scores. Results show that the effectiveness of videotapes depends in part on the cognitive style of the student. (Author/JJD)

This article explains to teachers how they can identify their personal modality strength (auditory, visual, or kinesthetic) and how this orientation affects their classroom style. Techniques are also suggested for providing reading help to auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. (SJL)

Discusses research supporting the contention that listening fluency should be taught first and oral response delayed because languaqe acquisition takes place without any overt performance. Includes extensive bibliographic references. (PMJ)

Reviews studies concerned with perceptual learning styles and provides a research basis for an experimental procedure which allows students to be introduced to new information through their strongest modality, to have that information reinforced through multisensory assignments, and to internalize the information through application in a creative…

Describes Learning Choices, an orientation course developed by the author and offered at Northern Virginia Community College. States that the course was designed to give students control over what they learn, how they learn it, and how the learning outcome is measured. Suggests that new teaching strategies, such as distance learning, make…

A mother describes the troubles she and her daughter had with her daughter's education until Robert Owens gave a weekend workshop on values-based accelerated learning. Knowing that there are different learning styles that can be matched by appropriate teaching styles enabled her to understand her daughter's problems and develop strategies to help…

Computers are increasingly a part of preschooler's lives. The purpose of the present paper was to discuss research avenues employing computers as a learning tool and to analyse the results obtained by this method at the preschoolers' learning level. Specifically this research was to determine if computer assisted instruction (CAI) was a useful…

Teaching mathematics in today's world requires practices and procedures integrated with performance tasks that actively involve students. In this second edition of Designing Rubrics for Mathematics, Eileen Depka clarifies the purpose of rubrics in math instruction and illustrates the relationship between assessment, rubrics, and the National…

This paper introduces an evaluation tool prepared to examine the quality of visuals in course-books. The tool is based on Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (i.e. Generative Theory) and its principles regarding the correct use of illustrations within text. The reason to generate the tool, the development process along with the…

When presented with the option to use a new instructional technology, students often face an approach-avoidance conflict. This study explored promotion and prevention orientations, concepts linked to approach and avoidance in Higgins's regulatory focus theory, in the choice to attend lectures or watch them online. Openness, a core disposition in…

System theory, which attests that any change in one component of a system will change other components, is fundamental to the communication discipline. Students are often provided with verbal metaphors (e.g., the machine metaphor) when learning about this theory but many times are not shown its complexity in an engaging manner. Additionally,…