Transparency theory is a view of learning and skill acquisition that grew out of the tradition in psychology that emphasizes the functional and holistic aspects of human perception and action. It emphasizes the tacit skill aspects of language acquisition and the functioning of language as a tool of social interaction as well as the more…

A review of the research on the cognitive development of middle school students is presented and ways of promoting intellectual growth in middle school science classrooms are offered. The annotations in this review are organized into four sections. The first part focuses on the research on the cognitive development of the middle school student.…

This paper describes how the learning cycle leads students to become more skilled reasoners. The three phases of the learning cycle are described and examples and goals of each are provided. Information is also offered on the three types of learning cycles: the descriptive; the empirical-inductive; and the hypothetical-deductive. Each is described…

This document contains seven learning activity packets (LAPs) that outline the study activities for the orientation and safety instructional area for an Auto Mechanics I course. The seven LAPs cover the following topics: orientation, safety, hand tools, arc welding, oxyacetylene cutting, oxyacetylene fusion welding, and oxyacetylene braze welding.…

This document contains two learning activity packets (LAPs) for the "orientation and safety" instructional area of a Machine Shop I course. The two LAPs cover the following topics: orientation and general shop safety. Each LAP contains a cover sheet that describes its purpose, an introduction, and the tasks included in the LAP; learning…

This book deals with the promotion of body awareness through use of educational gymnastics, with handicapped or non-handicapped but poorly coordinated children of all age levels. The method provides an analytical approach to movement, encourages children to listen to language, and assists them in creating their own activities. The activities and…

In order to demonstrate how course content can be adapted so that thinking skills are included in the learning experience, this paper uses a unit of study from theater history as a basis for examining how subject matter can be structured with learning objectives, a study guide, a hypothetical problem situation, instructions, and feedback. The…

Designed to assist local school districts in New Jersey with resources which might improve elementary science programs, this guide presents science proficiencies for grades K through 6. These proficiencies are illustrated by skills and standards that reflect the broad array of science topics and can be used as benchmarks for the development of…

This curriculum guide contains 10 units on custodial training that have been prepared for use by students who are academically disadvantaged. The packets, suitable for individualized instruction, have been written at an average reading level of seventh grade. Each packet contains an overview, learning objectives, pretest, written exercises,…

An instructional framework which provides opportunities for students to synthesize knowledge and recognize general approaches to problem representation and solution is advocated and discussed in this paper. The need for a combination of an interdisciplinary approach with the new technologies of the information age is emphasized. Major ideas…

Problems faced by graduate students in research and writing and ways to improve competence in these areas are addressed. Student problems were identified through formal/informal interviews and work with graduate students over a 12-year period. In the first step of choosing a topic, students may be worried that the topic is too broad, narrow, or…

A brief discussion of three phases in research on instructional films--whether films can teach (approximately 1910-1950), how films teach (1940 through the late 1950s), and who learns from films (1960-1985)--introduces a review of the research literature on the third phase. The experimental studies reviewed focus on three concerns: (1) use of…

A study examined the impact of instruction on the metacognitive strategies of five fifth-grade students whose vocabulary knowledge test scores were two or more stanines higher than their comprehension test scores. The students were administered "The Informal Reading Inventory" to determine their appropriate functional levels and the…

Intended for secondary school content area teachers, this book provides a sequence of steps through which classroom content area reading programs can be developed. The chapters discuss the following: (l) four methods of diagnosis for content area reading; (2) a procedure for assessing the richness of retellings; (3) approaches to content area…

This collection of competency statements deals with the reading, writing, and mathematics skills that youth participating in Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs should develop. Addressed in the individual sections of the volume are the following basic skill areas: gaining proficiency in elementary reading, developing the ability to read…