This paper discusses four areas in the psychology literature that have important implications for the instructional design of microcomputer-based simulations. The first one examined is cognitive structures, and the following suggestions for instructional design are offered: simulations should be appropriate for students' level of understanding;…

A study examined the relationship between the motives and needs of 658 adult students enrolled in a Dutch adult high school program and the curricular and instructional design of an educational reform--an open learning program. The population was all 4,442 adult learners in 3 schools who started an open learning experiment. When the students…

This study examined the effect of prekindergarten attendance on first graders' academic achievement. A literature review reported the results of other studies on the effects of early educational experiences, such as Head Start, on at-risk students' elementary school achievement. In general, these studies indicated that early educational…

There are potentially successful students who are failing one or more subjects every year. Many students are spending more than the normal 3 years at the middle school level because of this failure. A program was designed to increase the self-esteem, motivation, and interest of at-risk students, thereby improving their grades. A second aim was to…

This study examined the effects of training and follow-up training on teacher aides' effectiveness in the reinforcement of reading skills and motivational techniques introduced by kindergarten and first-grade classroom teachers. The following questions were addressed: (1) are trained assistants rated as more effective than untrained assistants?…

Writings in the field of human development and learning in the adult years can be integrated into a simple theory. A theory is defined as a policy, hypothesis, or set of principles used or proposed as a basis for action. The adult years are defined as a time in which one makes choices with a degree of maturity and wisdom and assumes responsibility…

A major difficulty in trying to improve the level of achievement in public schools in the United States is that there is little consensus on the nature of the causes or the solution to the current educational problems. The variety and range of proposed solutions have grown as the inability of schools to restore science achievement has become more…

This paper was designed to show that the two seemingly disparate concepts of andragogy (the study of how adults learn) and whole language are compatible and should be considered by planners and implementers of adult literacy programs. Guiding principles that both andragogy and whole language share are: (1) active participation of learners; (2) use…

The 34 tests described in this bibliography include measures of learning modalities, learning styles, and attitudes toward learning. Some are self-evaluations while others are checklists completed by teachers. All ages are represented. This document is one in a series of topical bibliographies from the Test Collection (TC) at Educational Testing…

This study compared the grade equivalents of students with learning disabilities in English composition classes using traditional lecture and word processing formats, to determine which format would best accommodate these students at San Antonio College (Texas). Students in the word processing class were instructed on the use of the computer…

It was hypothesized that subjects who were trained in selected task-related learning strategies would exhibit significantly increased performance and academic motivation over untrained subjects. Students in an associate degree management course (n=54) participated in either treatment or control groups. Both groups received training in…

This is the sixth in a series of biennial surveys of Texas public school teachers. It is part of a study, begun in 1980, to form a database of demographic information related to characteristics of Texas teachers. The results of the present survey are presented and analyzed. Information includes: (1) national data for teachers in 1976 and 1986; (2)…

A set of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) lessons is presented that is geared to the needs of reluctant writers, especially those with limited English proficiency. The approach has been used successfully with grades 2-6. The plan has seven steps: (1) an oral performance by the teacher using a key word and a series of unrelated sentences in which…

This paper discusses the use of part-time faculty or adjunct faculty at the University of Louisville (Kentucky); the challenges they present to program administrators, including their retention and meaningful involvement in program activities; and how the university motivates them. It is noted that part-time faculty differ in terms of their…

This paper describes a quantitative method to investigate the enrollment motives of students, and reports on the application of the method at the University of Utrecht (The Netherlands). The paper discusses environmental, educational/organizational, and image factors influencing a student's choice of a particular university. A quantitative…