The resources framework provides a useful and generative model of student thinking and learning. In particular, it suggests various strategies for instruction such as priming resources and refining intuition that allow students to build on knowledge they already have. In this paper, we describe the affordances of the resources framework in guiding…

To design an effective computer science curriculum, educators require a systematic method of classifying the difficulty level of learning activities and assessment tasks. This is important for curriculum design and implementation and for communication between educators. Different educators must be able to use the method consistently, so that…

The research project is being supported by a grant from the Bureau of Research, U.S. Office of Education (OEC 6-10-235)

Students collaborating in small groups is a characteristic of problem-based learning (PBL) that is receiving increased consideration in the literature. In this paper findings from studies in this area are synthesized and discussed. A distinction is made between studies focusing on cognitive effects of group learning and studies focusing on…

Conditional logic, as interpreted in this paper, means deductive logic characterized by "if-then" statements. This study sought to investigate the knowledge of conditional logic possessed by primary children and to test their readiness to learn such concepts. Ninety students were designated the experimental group and participated in a…

This study examined the effectiveness of the Early Childhood Curriculum (ECC) as a viable instrument for the immediate acceleration of cognitive development among preschoolers. During an eight month tutorial project, ten 3-year-old children received one 15 minute lesson each week from the curriculum. (Author/SB)

Socially disadvantaged children who were tutored on a one-to-one basis twice a week did not show any significant achievement gain over nontutored children, although data from tutors, parents, children, and teachers indicate that the tutoring should have had an impact. (CJ)

Research supported by U.S. Public Health Service grant K3-MH-10, 749. Disadvantaged Youth

Tutor training programs in composition which emphasize interpersonal skills while offering concentrated correctness doses of mechanics and grammar are inherently limiting. While interpersonal skills are important, they only superficially address the complex situation of tutoring. A prescription for a healthy tutor program, one which would allow…

Findings are examined from studies published from 1980 to the present concerning the effects of peer tutoring on mathematics performance. Findings indicate the effectiveness of peer tutoring in promoting significant cognitive gains for both the tutor and the tutee with populations of low achievers, mildly handicapped, or socially disadvantaged…

In an early education program, 100 disadvantaged 4-year-olds (50 Negroes and 50 whites) attend classes one-half day, four days a week, from October through June. A teacher visits each child's home every other week to conduct a tutorial session lasting 1 1/2 hours. Three objectives of the program are (1) to develop a preschool curriculum based on…

Research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week intervention program of individual instruction for disadvantaged preschool children. Based on this pretest, 17 children with IQ scores of 107 or less were selected and placed into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was exposed to individual cognitive and…

This study investigated young children's ability to solve probability problems and studied the cognitive processes proposed by Piaget and Inhelder as necessary to solve probability problems. The effects of tutorial and self-discovery training were measured and discussed. Results from 168 first-graders in five training conditions indicated that:…

Based on the belief that structured preschool activities aid in the development of disadvantaged children, this study attempted (1) to evolve a tutorial program to accelerate spontaneous development in disadvantaged children and prevent cognitive and language deficits, and (2) to assess growth of the infant's cognitive and language development…

Discusses interviews of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students' conducted to assess their reactions to a tutorial project for improving cognitive performance in content courses through the use of talk and writing as learning tools. The study concludes that ESL learners should be given opportunities to use their own language resources to…