Develops a typology of learning skills congruent with the learning style descriptions of experiential learning theory. Describes the Learning Skills Profile (LSP), an assessment instrument designed to assess learning skills. Suggests the LSP for providing personal and organizational feedback on skills. Suggests that the typology allows both…

Reports on the effects of long-term intervention in the teaching of mathematics through the analysis of standardized test score data over a 9-year period at a K-8 elementary school. Results indicate that a more thoughtful, or conceptually based, approach to elementary mathematics instruction has an overall positive effect on test scores. (28…

Discusses the differences between teaching for procedural understanding and teaching for conceptual understanding by asking several penetrating, open-ended questions, directed at teachers, about the type of mathematical understanding students are achieving within several examples of classroom situations. (JJK)

Assessment of 60 children (ages 9-15) with learning disabilities resulted in a group with relatively intact visual planning and mental flexibility skills and a group clearly dysfunctional in these areas. Comparison of the two subtypes on measures of academic skills, visual memory, visual-motor integration, and motor speed indicated significant…

Most discussions about at-risk students focus on remedying deficiencies in basic skills, often narrowly defined as English literacy and ability to perform mathematical computations. Omitting appealing subjects from a "streamlined" curriculum will only worsen the situation. Through careful planning, administrators can add the power of music to…

Discussion of information retrieval, knowledge representation, and computer-assisted learning focuses on a study that created a computer-based system designed to observe and record users' interactions with an ideal knowledge base consisting of unrevealed subject experts, appropriate documentation, and computer files. Information accessing…

Examined impact on novice family therapists' skill acquisition of the initial phase of family therapy. Results revealed significant changes from pre- to posttesting in family therapy skills. Changes in trainee skill levels were positively correlated to trainee's extent of initial knowledge of family therapy. (RJM)

Outlines conceptualization and preliminary exploration of phenomenal patterning, a counseling approach used to examine how language expression, theme identification, and guided imagery can reveal basic structure of person's mindset. Examined patterning focusing on theme of problem formation/resolution and three universal modeling processes of…

This rejoinder to Carbo (EC 602 673) reiterates the author's premise in EC 602 672 that the learning style approach to teaching reading is similar to discredited process approaches. Carbo's documentation is criticized as being unscientific because of being based on testimonials, opinion, unpublished research, and unproven cause and effect.…

Examines the philosophy of the whole-language approach to teaching and learning. Whole language stresses that language should remain whole and uncontrived and children should use it in ways that relate to their own lives. Answers are not as important as learning processes in the whole-language approach. (SM)

Interviews with 13 recent college graduates and written comments of 11 seniors revealed different forms of understanding paralleling different conceptions of learning. Further analysis suggests that types of structure used in a lecture-based course can influence the ease with which students integrate information for comprehension. (Author/MSE)

Two studies with 143 and 74 students, respectively, investigated the relationship between qualitative differences in learning outcomes, perceptions of learning environment, and students' personal approaches to study in nursing education. Results suggest environments perceived to encourage deep approaches to learning will facilitate higher quality…

Examined personality characteristics of first-time (n=174) and repeat (n=64) driving while intoxicated offenders. Found that repeat offenders differed significantly from first-time offenders on 12 of 24 personality characteristics, were less expressive emotionally, and were less flexible in ways of finding stimulation; however, self-reported…

Designed and presented guidance study skills approach to improve academic achievement in intermediate students by increasing self-efficacy and awareness of metacognitive skills, learning strategies, and learning style information. Findings from 118 fourth graders showed that participants made improvement in all California Test of Basic Skills…

These authors describe how current cognitive theory has produced two instruments for instructors to use in determining the skill levels and study strategies that dominate their students' approaches to classroom materials. The two instruments are the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) and the Motivated Strategies for Learning…