Noting that conceptions of the cognitive representations and processes involved in discourse comprehension and production recently have undergone an important shift in orientation, this paper points out the importance of the shift to the conception of the nature of texts, of text understanding, and of cognitive processes in knowledge creation and…

Noting that teachers sometimes fail to draw on students' prior knowledge, this guide focuses on helping teachers both to think about the cognitive processes involved in learning and to design activities that provide students with a solid introduction to various learning tasks. The first section briefly discusses current theory and research in…

The planning and implementation of a multimedia college program for Nebraska are described. In addition to providing background information on the State University of Nebraska (SUN) project and the staff involved, the July 1971 proposal and a position paper outlining a plan for evaluating experiences other than formal credit courses are included.…

Evidence from the research literature suggests that a variety of cognitive factors are responsible for chemistry achievement. This investigation examined the role that four cognitive factors, namely, prior knowledge, formal reasoning ability, memory capacity and field independence/dependence, play on achievement in chemistry as measured by tests…

This study is the fifth in a series of reports from the Reading-to-Write Project, a collaborative study of students' cognitive processes at one critical point of entry into academic performance. This part of the study examines the ways in which college students interpret and negotiate an assignment that calls for reading to write. Subjects, 17…

Data on full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, student semester credit hour (SSCH) production trends, and nontraditional instruction are presented for Arkansas colleges and universities. FTE enrollment is reported for each two- and four-year state institution, including trends for 1973-1983. Data are reported on SSCH production program area and…

Universities and colleges of advanced education in Austrialia were surveyed to determine their policies and practices in admitting and granting status to holders of TAFE (Technical and Further Education) middle-level certificates who wish to transfer to relevant higher education courses. Of the 90 higher education institutions that were…

A national system is described that was designed to facilitate a college's task of relating formal course work taken elsewhere to its own programs. The project builds on the system established by the American Council on Education (ACE) in 1945 to provide credit recommendations for formal military courses, and uses experience gained in a New York…

Certain literacy knowledge acquired prior to the initiation of beginning reading instruction is necessary for early reading success. Unfortunately, children from low- income families and who are likely to attend schools with low reading performance are less likely to have acquired such knowledge. Taking professionals and students step-by-step…

Despite suggestions for incorporating students' experiences into school math lessons, mathematics education seems to be the last bastion of formalism. This paper reports on a sociocultural study of the use of students' personal experiences in early childhood elementary mathematics lessons. This study documents the use of students' personal…

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit transfer policy in Australia from 1995 to 2001 was examined through a review of Australian research discourse and an analysis of national data for the period. Selected findings were as follows: (1) RPL and credit transfer are most relevant to vocational education and training (VET) clients seeking…

This project is building on site-specific qualitative data to develop a profile of adult learning activity now largely unrecognized by education providers. It explores the various learning strategies used by adults in these three locations: unionized factory, community-based training program, and literacy program. At a half-way point in a two-year…

The Internet seems an ideal medium for fostering and supporting informal adult learning because it allows adults to seek out and use resources independently, control the pace and direction of learning, and talk to and consult others. Because it provides access to information, encourages meaningful interaction with information or material, and…

Articles in this special issue include the following: "Learning to Write in a Second Language: Two Decades of Research" (Alister Cumming); "Some Steps Towards a Socio-Cognitive Interpretation of Second Language Composition Processes" (Julio Delarios Roca, Liz Murphy Liz); "Trends in the Conceptualizations of Second Language Composing Strategies: A…

Three presentations are provided from Symposium 39, Integrating Learning with Working, of the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD) 2000 Conference Proceedings. "Constructing Knowledge in Continuing Professional Education [CPE]" (Barbara J. Daley, Merryl Carlsson) reports an analysis of the interrelationships between professional…