Several questions regarding the frequency and motivation of adult learning are examined in light of findings from several research studies. Focus is on highly intentional learning which is not part of formal course work: a series of time-consuming episodes in which the person's primary intention is to gain certain definite knowledge and skill.…

TO TEST THE HOULE THEORY THAT ADULTS HAVE THREE ORIENTATIONS TOWARD LEARNING--THE GOAL, THE ACTIVITY, AND THE KNOWLEDGE ORIENTATIONS, A REVISED SHEFFIELD LEARNING-ORIENTATION SCALE WAS ADMINISTERED TO 704 ADULTS TO DETERMINE LEARNING ORIENTATION PRIORITIES OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ATTENDED 32 AGRICULTURAL AND HOME ECONOMICS MEETINGS OF COOPERATIVE…

This study compared the effects of four experimental treatments on levels of expectancy or aspiration of 80 disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged boys and girls. Levels of expectancy were more discrepant from previous performance in conditions perceived as chance regulated, and in those outcomes actually controlled by chance. More unusual shifts in…

This issue is the first of a series that will be made available to persons interested in the problems and potentialities of human motivation. Each issue will be devoted to a discussion of one aspect of motivation and will report practices, research, and theory development in this field. Features will include announcements of publications and…

This report is a synthesis of materials delivered at the seminar at St. Wolfgang organized by the Austrian Government in 1968 under the auspices of the Council of Europe on "The Value of Natural Sciences in Adult Education." It links the problems posed with those discussed at the Marly-le-Roi course (1967). The following aspects of adult education…

This document contains the four appendixes to the final report (SP 003 269). Appendix A contains information on the Nova Educational Complex (part of the South Florida Education Center in Fort Lauderdale) where the study was conducted. Included are outline descriptions of the Nova High School curriculum and personnel and of the physical plant and…

A quasi-static learning model was proposed to describe the interaction of factors believed to be involved in the development of reading comprehension abilities. Reading comprehension was viewed as an extension of general language learning and subject to many of the same factors and complexities as is the development of language. There are five…

The learning center is a place for using and storing materials that relate to a special interest or curriculum area. It is a place where the students, after consulting with the teacher, may go to work; where ideas, materials, and activities are presented on a variety of levels of difficulty. Teachers, however, must first decide what the role of…

Goal setting is a motivational technique effective in many subject matter areas with students of various grades and abilities. This paper describes the use of individual goal-setting conferences to increase learning in various subject matter areas. The technique includes a weekly individual conference in which the student is given the opportunity…

It was hypothesized that the effect of advance organizers (principles, organization concepts, subsuming concepts, etc.) on learning and retention was additive rather than interactive--i.e., that any increment in score could be accounted for by specific factors such as additional information, additional practice, learning set, etc. One hundred and…

THE SUCCESS OF DISCOVERY MATHEMATICS TEACHING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS TESTED OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD. THE PROJECT WAS INTENDED TO SEE IF A TRAINED MATHEMATICIAN WORKING AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN COULD (1) MOTIVATE THE CHILDREN TO BE INTERESTED IN SCHOOL WORK BY INTERESTING THEM IN MATHEMATICS AND (2) COMMUNICATE WITH…

Persistence at learning digit spans and goal setting was measured in 20 internal locus of control boys and 20 external locus of control boys from a sixth grade rural low SES sample. (BRT)

Responding to Professor Oscanyan's article "How Can I Teach My Students to Learn on Their Own," this article questions Oscanyan's assumptions about learning processes. (DS)

Teachers, professors, administrators must be alert to certain factors that indicate change if they wish to be successful, teaching and motivating in their chosen roles. Discusses those factors and presents six ways of motivating people to learn. (Author/RK)

Discusses important reasons why children fail to read in the primary grades, examines two critical stages in learning to read as well as the goals and emphasis each require in instruction, and suggests an effective educational prescription for helping children become good readers. (RK)