Teachers' actions are thought to produce certain types of student thinking. To devise effective inservice programs, educators must understand four learning principles and five thinking dimensions enabling students to develop positive learning attitudes and acquire, integrate, and extend their knowledge. A new "curriculum" of preservice…

Discusses a study about the effect of learning styles of patent examiners on adoption of computers. Subjects' amount of computer use was a function of learning style, age, comfort after training, and gender. Findings indicate that women showed a greater propensity to adopt than men. Discusses implications for further research. (JS)

Reports on a study of the learning styles of two adult classroom learners of German as a second language. The extent to which, and in what ways, learners' learning style varies, whether one learning style results in more effective learning, and the effect of instructional style on the subjects' learning outcomes are explored. (29 references)…

Discussed is a method to teach undergraduate students how to complete a conceptual design. Presents three tools to use: (1) how to use order-of-magnitude arguments to simplify problems, (2) how to derive design heuristics, and (3) how to decompose large problems into a set of small, simple problems. (Author/MVL)

Reports on the assessment of student thinking in the area of commitment to the laws of conservation of matter and energy during a study of conceptual change among introductory chemistry students. States four conditions upon which strategies for conceptual change are based. (RT)

Presents edited transcript of a conference that examined how computer technology can be effective in helping at-risk students. Highlights include defining at-risk students; examples of how technologies are being used as intervention tools; adult education programs; software; how the industry can help educators; and policy recommendations. (LRW)

Examines the interaction between mode of computer assisted instruction and cognitive style on the understanding of concept relationships and mastery of factual information. Finds learners are more effective when matched to the appropriate mode of computer assisted instruction. (MVL)

The informal curriculum centering on holidays in elementary education often ignores cultural and individual differences among students. School holiday celebrations may have serious consequences for the following dimensions of schooling: (1) aesthetic; (2) curricular; and (3) socio-emotional. Teachers can provide options for all students by making…

The effectiveness of methods teaching how to identify the main idea of expository paragraphs was tested using 47 remedial reading 6th through 11th graders. Tested were: strategy training; classification training; combined training; and practice only. Strategy training improved performance, while classification training only improved performance…

Discussion of research that evaluates the effectiveness of interactive video used for training in the United States and in the United Kingdom highlights a program developed for the Ford Motor Company. Topics discussed include content-treatment interaction; learning strategies; intermode differences; research criteria; pretest and posttest results;…

Analysis of statements by 869 students and 21 faculty at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) concerning learning, using the SOLO (structure of observed learning outcomes) Taxonomy, identified key concepts in learning in eight categories: learning definitions; factors influencing learning; learning strategies; learning styles; aspects…

Children's magical explanations and beliefs were investigated in two studies. Found that many four-year olds view magic as a plausible mechanism, yet reserve magical explanations for certain real world events that violate their causal expectations. Parents and culture at large may at first actively support magical beliefs whereas peers and schools…

Discusses the changes in art education within the last 30 years and considers their effect on assessment. Briefly touches on theorists and their contributions to the field, including Elliot Eisner, Robert Stake, and Leonard Meyer. Includes a summarized list of art education guidelines. (MJP)

Group leaders who offer affirmations to participants in outdoor education encourage healthy relationships and group cohesion and increase individuals' self-esteem. Personal affirming includes actions and statements that make participants feel comfortable in their environment, support capable work, and encourage behavior change in a supportive and…

Thirty postgraduate librarianship students learned about PRECIS indexing using a system that responds as flexibly and intelligently as a human expert to natural language queries. Interactions were logged and analyzed. The evidence obtained supports the notion that individuals employ distinct strategies when interacting with information sources in…