Attitudes toward and approaches to error in language learning depend on one's point of view: strictly linguistic, pedagogical, or that of the learner. This last approach is that "one learns by making mistakes," and from that perspective, there is no absolute definition of error, but only an operative one. (MSE)

Focusing on the ST-ART shorthand theory presentation method, this article discusses the following principles of language-motor skill acquisition: mental practice, symbol-sound association, verbal mediation, recitation and articulation, hierarchy of habits, overlearning, learner anxiety, sense modality, guided practice, kinesthetic imagery, visual…

Encoding voice information is a cognitively effortful, age sensitive process. For older adults, enhanced voice encoding under the intentional condition, relative to the incidental condition, was accompanied by a significant decrement in sentence recall. The age difference apparently reflects the diminished processing capacity of older adults.…

The amount of learning will be primarily affected by the quality of the student's questioning. If the student is passive, the internship will become only a part-time job or a training experience. But if the student is an active, constructive questioner, he/she will be participating in the central mission of higher education. (LRA)

Argues that the capacity to read and derive benefit from literature involves an interaction of at least three related abilities--aesthetic reading, reflecting, and problem solving. Offers an inquiry approach to teaching literature as one way to promote student development of these abilities. (RL)

Examines various kinds of linguistic and psychological information for their pertinence to the arrangement of grammatical information in teaching beginners in English as a Second Language. It is claimed that the psychological information on learning processes is as important as linguistic analysis of the target language. (Author/AMH)

Course evaluations analyzed to discover factors affecting learning indicate that expectations, learning style, and personality are major factors. It is suggested that learning is strongly influenced by these student characteristics and parallel factors in courses and teachers. (MSE)

Summarizes observations of differences in cognitive processes in college physics students. Provides examples of trains of thought and misconceptions exhibited by students and suggests procedures to help resolve the difficulties. (CS)

Findings support the use of learning modules and learner strategies in the learning and remembering of complex gross motor skills. Strategy usage may have a positive effect on motor skill acquisition but not necessarily on retention. (CJ)

A comparison was made between older youth and a sample of retired elderly relative to response confidence in a multiple-choice task situation. Analysis indicated that both age groups utilized feedback effectively over the two retention conditions and that both groups expressed similar levels of confidence for the specific task. (Author)

This essay examines some shortcomings of traditional methods of studying and helping children and concludes that teachers need to recognize that the child is able to inform and enlighten the teacher. (JMF)

Horizontal vs vertical associative memory is defined. Vertical associative memory involves chunking--specifying new nodes representing combinations of old nodes. Chunking is the basis of semantic memory and cognitive learning. The hippocampal (limbic) arousal system is critical to the chunking process; its disruption produces the amnesic syndrome.…

Four experiments examined priming between newly learned paired associates through two procedures, lexical decision and item recognition. Results argue against a functional separation of the semantic and episodic memory systems. (Author/AM)

The process by which 55 preschool children acquire the meanings of dimensional and expressive terms was investigated in relation to Eve Clark's semantic feature hypothesis. (Author/MP)

Objectives are defined in a manner that eliminates many of their attributes that have been criticized as being harmful or unappealing. Examples of objectives appropriate for secondary school mathematics are given and the relationship between classroom processes and objectives is discussed. (MK)