Civilization, Colonization, and SimCity are three CD-ROM simulation programs that provide authentic learning experiences for elementary and secondary level social studies. Benefits include a problem-solving design structure; student-controlled experiential learning; transferrable skills; and improvement of cognitive skills and reading…

Investigates listening performance in a computer-based multimedia environment. Learner success rates were compared on comprehension of English as a Second Language and language recall tasks while using audio, video, and multimedia. Results of performance on tasks reveal more effective comprehension and recall while using multimedia than either…

A fourth-grade teacher examined whether students could develop their own questions about reading selections. She observed students, discussed their reading preferences, and evaluated the effectiveness of their question writing. By utilizing the questioning process, the children learned to be more confident, independent learners capable of…

Examines the English vowel productions of native speakers of Italian who immigrated to Canada between 2 and 23 years of age and of native English speakers from the same community. Findings reveal an increase in perceived accentedness on every vowel as a function of increasing age of arrival as well as high intelligibility scores for English vowels…

Effects of reading instruction maximizing students' cognitive engagement on Grade 1 to 5 reading achievement were examined over a school year for students in 9 high-poverty schools. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that several teaching variables explained substantial variation in reading achievement growth. The most consistent finding was that…

A case study examined the effect that cognitive rescaling of digital text had on the research and writing processes of a student with a learning disability and emotional disturbance in a self-contained alternative school environment. Results indicate the cognitive rescaling of digital text had a positive effect on the student. (Contains…

Describes a study of the comprehension strategies used by four community college developmental reading students, comparing results for two "less able" and two "more able" readers. Reports that the "more able" readers employed interpreting strategies more often than the "less able" readers. Reviews implications for teachers. The questionnaire is…

Defines a generalization as "a descriptive statement of broad application indicating a relationship between two or more concepts." Argues that successful teaching about generalizations can only occur when students understand the relationship between concepts and facts. Discusses four issues and four approaches related to teaching…

The relationships between reading proficiency and field independence/field dependence and sex were studied in 84 male and 79 female second graders. There were no significant gender differences in achievement or with the reading measures. Field-independent subjects were more proficient readers in the separate skill areas of reading than were…

Reports a study on how listening affects student comprehension of new social studies material. Describes the experimental and control groups that were tested after treatment in order to determine degree of listening awareness and content knowledge. Implication made from findings is that listening instruction can enhance comprehension of content.…

Describes how social studies teachers can help students interact with textbooks to promote better comprehension and retention of information. Suggests methods for linking existing knowledge to concepts in the text, for organizing information to encourage retention, and for making the expository style of texts more accessible. (LS)

Investigates the performance on different types of inference questions of 2 groups of Zambian secondary school students at grade 10 and grade 8. The texts used were "familiar" (Zambian-focused) or "unfamiliar" (British-focused). Results showed that grade 10 students performed significantly better than grade 8 students. (38…

Compares strategies used to infer the meanings of unknown words by three NNS readers--a good reader, an average reader, and a poor reader--from a series of six readings. The good reader uses a wider range of strategies than the weaker ones; all readers "read in" meanings from their own specialized subject (in this case chemistry). (15…

Examines cognitive, metacognitive, and motivational factors as predictors of individual differences in the reading comprehension abilities of good and poor readers. Finds that regression analyses within subgroups indicated word recognition was the most important predictor variable for poor readers, whereas perceived competence predicted the…

Reports results of research on the effects of open education on student outcomes, using classroom authority structure analysis. Maintains that student outcomes are contingent on the congruence between formal and informal authority structure. Concludes that more congruent authority structure was related to higher reading comprehension and…