This paper describes a small-scale research project based on workbooks designed to support independent study of proofs in a first course on abstract algebra. We discuss the lecturers' aims in designing the workbooks, and set these against a background of research on students' learning of group theory and on epistemological beliefs and study habits…

Increasing numbers of students are applying to university with the International Certificate of Christian Education (ICCE), an alternative to mainstream qualifications based on a biblically-based, individualised curriculum called Accelerated Christian Education (ACE). No formal validity arguments exist for the ICCE, but it claims to prepare…

There is continuing concern about the paucity of social science graduates who have the quantitative skills required by academia and industry. Not only do students often lack the confidence to explore, and use, statistical techniques, the dominance of qualitative research in many disciplines has also often constrained programme-level integration of…

Peter Gray explains how his Year 12 students came to research and write a resource on the history of Zambia, for history teachers "in" Zambia. The construction of the resource stretched the Year 12 students in new ways: the Internet was useless and there were no easy digests in A-Level textbooks to get them started. They would have to…

This article presents some of the findings from a mixed-methods case study that investigated collaborative learning for pairs of higher education students working in a music studio on a drum kit recording. A stratified purposive sampling technique was used and students were allocated a partner of similar ability; often referred to as a…

Reports on an evaluation of the use of learning materials developed by the Open University for operational managers in the British Health Service by professionals in Australia, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Discusses participant's views of the workbooks, the assessment process, and the development of competence. (LRW)

Open University learning materials for health service managers were evaluated in Australia (n=8), the Cayman Islands (n=12), Hong Kong (n=43), and the United Kingdom (n=68). Participants felt the 18 workbooks, assessment process, and tutorials were helpful. There were considerable cross-country differences in the extent to which they felt their…

Reports on the first stage of a British phonetic training project in foreign language learning that used a repurposed videodisc developed by using the editing capabilities of an authoring tool. Topics discussed include student motivation; content issues; teaching strategies; questioning/feedback techniques; text and graphic screens; and manuals…