Offers ways to teach students to understand and appreciate stories not just for their plots but for their stylistic features. Suggests that teachers demonstrate alternatives by rewriting passages in ways different from those chosen by the author, and asking students to describe the differences. Includes classroom examples. (PRA)

"Agriculture of Developing Countries," a course offered to nonagricultural majors at Illinois State University, uses a demonstration plot at a university farm to show students 60 species or subspecies of crops from around the world. Plant culture and harvesting techniques can be observed by university as well as high school students. (SK)

Presents empirical evidence for imitative problem solving and the interpretation theory, based on a study of Scottish secondary school students. Discusses analogical problem solving; the interpretation theory notation; and predicted sources of difficulty in mapping and adapting the practice problem to solve a variant. (Contains 42 references.)…

This article explores the idea that teachers can improve their practice through reflection and action research. The author discusses the constructivist and socio-constructivist roots of action research. The case study explores the use of a project to improve learner autonomy and cooperation. Students made key decisions about the project content,…

Clear and unequivocal evidence shows that observation of object affordances or transitive actions facilitates the activation of a compatible response. By contrast, the evidence showing response facilitation following observation of intransitive actions is less conclusive because automatic imitation and spatial compatibility have been confounded.…

Internet extends the reach of existing laboratory and training infrastructure to beyond the walls of such facilities. Though nothing can replace the hands-on experience in a laboratory; a carefully developed web-based digital lab may be the next best thing. In some cases, there may be benefits associated with a "distance laboratory" that…

Adults (either mothers or strangers) presented unfamiliar foods to 1- to 4-year-olds individually in their homes. Childrens' acceptance of the food was examined when the adults were eating and when they were simply offering the food. It was concluded that social facilitation could account for the data obtained. (Author/GO)

Developmental levels of gender identity in preschool children were investigated. (JMB)

Intended as a motivational tool to be used in public school classroom instruction and counseling, this document recognizes some of the outstanding women, from varied ethnic and racial backgrounds, who have contributed to life in the northwestern United States. The document contains succinct biographies of 37 women, and also includes suggestions to…

Children, aged 5, 8, and 11 years, were tested to assess the conformity of their developing symbolic gestural abilities to imagery processes. Results are discussed in terms of Piaget's conception of stages in imagery development. (ST)

Three experiments were conducted with elementary school students which investigated whether modelling of unreinforced behavior influenced children to perform that behavior. Results indicated that the unreinforced behavior of the model serves both as a source of information and as a cue for unreinforced imitation. (DP)

The effectiveness of students' modeling teacher behaviors as a means of bringing about desirable classroom decorum and skill achievement is discussed within the context of physical education classes. (JD)

Effects of symbolic modeling processes on exploration were investigated. Written narration reporting a novel experience was the symbolic model. Subjects read the material 1 or 3 times (Familiarity), with 1, 8, or 15 inserted exploration statements (Frequency), where such statements were specific or diversive (Exploration Type). With increased…

The University of Wyoming elementary teacher education program, Professional Semester I, is designed to relate college theory to classroom practice. Two college instructors and three university school teachers work with students in 4-hour blocks 4 days a week. The students study basic teaching methods relating to the four educative…

Fifteen mentally retarded (mean age 13 years), 15 learning disabled (mean age 9 years), and 15 normal (mean age 8 years) boys were equated on mental age, administered the Hagen Central-Incidental Task, and presented a modeling tape for imitation. (CL)