Four theories of teaching are presented based on faculty definitions of teaching: knowledge transfer; shaping students to a predetermined mold; exploratory; and developmental. These theories are related to student attitudes about learning and are offered as a means of resolving misunderstandings among teachers and between teachers and students.…

A comprehensive school in Hertfordshire, England, is reexamining its learning strategies to provide the most flexible systems of learning for pupils, aged 11-18, who range in abilities and include handicapped and academically gifted. Among aspects being studied are pupil-participation in planning, enriching activities, and the teacher's role.…

Proposes a cognitive information processing approach to instructional theory, which emphasizes the learner's role as opposed to the efficacy of different instructional methods, and posits that student use of cognitive strategies is an important part of the learning process. Findings of prior research are reviewed. Sixty-four references are…

Describes a unit on the physical properties of minerals. The unit, based on the learning-cycle approach, encourages students to move from single to more complex reasoning patterns. Concepts fostered are orderlines, quantification, and replication. (JN)

Suggests incorporating three-phase learning cycle into laboratory teaching to foster formal reasoning skills. Describes five types of laboratories, each of which offers experiences necessary for the initial phase of the learning cycle. Indicates importance of presenting concepts in a way that progresses from concrete to abstract. (JN)

The Mole Concept is a learning cycle (patterned after University of Nebraska-Lincoln's ADAPT model) for the chemical unit "mole." Discusses objectives and activities involved in each phase of the cycle: exploration, invention, and application. Indicates the cycle is superior to traditional lecture-demonstration for teaching the abstract mole…

The modified stage hypothesis, which predicts the balance of right v. left hemisphere involvement in learning or acquisition of languages, is examined and an apparent contradiction is found between conclusions from experimental findings supporting the hypothesis and Krashen's Monitor theory underlying it. (MSE)

Examines the Modern Language Aptitude Test and identifies as the lowest common denominator in three of its four parts an individual's short-term Memory capability. Concludes that this test cannot indicate an individual's linguistic aptitude because it does not take into consideration the role of two key aspects of language learning: long-term…

Learning cycles (exploration, invention, application) are used to introduce general chemistry principles while giving students concrete experiences with descriptive chemistry. Principles taught in the laboratory, laboratory experiments, instructional strategies, and evaluation of the approach are discussed. (Author/JN)

Text information relevant to questions was learned better than text information irrelevant to questions. Results are predicted by a theory that readers selectively allocate a greater volume of attention to question-relevant information, and that a process supported by the additional attention causes more of the information to be learned.…

The effect of educational television background music on selective exposure and information acquisition was studied. Background music of slow tempo, regardless of its appeal, had negligible effects on attention and information acquisition. Rhythmic, fast-tempo background music, especially when appealing, significantly reduced visual attention to…

Describes investigation of factors influencing learning with understanding, including effectiveness of decision making by learners, determination to unlearn misconceptions, and awareness of the deficiencies generating inappropriate attitudes. Major implication relates to promoting self-control of learning by understanding the learning process and…

Reviews the research literature on strategies and techniques employed by successful language learners and discusses the results of a questionnaire administered to 85 students, which dealt with specific learning tasks and their individual strategies. Responses of 18 A students are compared with responses of 18 C/D students. (Author/AMH)

Use of diagrams and three-dimensional aids in teaching laboratory techniques of tooth reduction was evaluated. The visual aids were found to be useful, but little difference was found in the effectiveness of two- and three-dimensional aids, possibly because two-dimensional aids provided step-by-step instructions while three-dimensional models did…

In two studies, sixth graders (Study 1) and fourth graders (Study 2) listened to or read a text. Some students were asked to imagine pictures of the material. Oral presentation of the material produced better results than written-only forms. Fourth graders benefited more from mental imagery than did sixth graders. (Author/JJD)