Describes an approach to science instruction that motivates students by tapping into their prior knowledge and by employing specific questioning techniques. Provides information on matching the questioning technique to the instructional goal. (DDR)

Describes teaching "Useful Grammar" to inner-city middle school children in Jackson, Mississippi. Discusses key elements of Useful Grammar: identifying and focusing on grammatical structures; relying on knowledge already possessed; inventing more memorable nomenclature; devising lesson plans and hands-on activities; and having students practice…

Gender differences in attitudes toward computers are examined. Subjects were 136 male and 185 female introductory psychology students. The following were assessed: self confidence; anxiety; beliefs about the impact of computers on society; general positive and negative beliefs; and effects of prior experience. (Author/AEF)

Middle-level and high school teachers must be skilled in content-area reading strategies and be able to teach their students strategic informational reading skills. Students who learn how to use background knowledge, text-feature knowledge (headings, graphics, and vocabulary), and metacognitive knowledge.skillfully will become strategic readers.…

Explains a shift in reading instruction theories, from defining reading as a set of discrete skills to understanding the role prior knowledge plays in comprehension. Presents annotations of 11 web sites that give teachers ideas about how to help students construct meaning and how to transact with text in powerful ways. Notes that these strategies…

Discusses techniques for helping English-as-a-Foreign-Language students activate their prior knowledge for effective top-down processing to facilitate reading comprehension. Three activities are discussed: the use of a semantic map, questioning, and previewing. (Author/VWL)

Discusses the "state of the art" of second language teacher education through a review of recent research and presents an overview of current perspectives on the field's knowledge base. Concludes with a proposal for a reflective approach to the preparation of second language teachers that draws from the literature review. (Author/VWL)

Describes a study that evaluated the impact and use of laptop computers when they were required for graduate information and library science (ILS) students at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Topics include results of online and email surveys; student perspectives; previous computer experience; computer skills; and institutional…

Notes that many students enter postsecondary institutions unprepared to meet the studying demands placed on them. Examines models and taxonomies that have guided researchers as they have investigated studying. Reviews research factors related to studying at the college level: course characteristics, learner characteristics, and learning…

Explores the multidimensional nature of learning from text through a discussion of the critical variables of students' knowledge, interest, and use of strategies. Examines the developmental nature of learning from text as students journey through school from acclimation to competence, and finally to expertise in a subject area. Suggests…

Discussion of students' prior knowledge and its effect on analogical reasoning focuses on four case studies of high school and college students that were designed to determine factors important for success in overcoming misconceptions via analogical reasoning. Explanatory models are explained, and abstract transfer versus explanatory model…

The four "villages" of experiential learning (EL) are (1) assessment and accreditation of prior learning; (2) EL as the basis for change in postsecondary institutions; (3) EL as the basis for community action and social change; and (4) EL as a medium for personal growth and development. (SK)

Discusses the use of a questionnaire at the beginning of a history of psychology course to assess student knowledge of historical findings, major concepts, and assumptions about the nature of psychology. Responses indicate areas for future course emphases and reveal shortcomings in other psychology courses. (GEA)

Replicates and expands upon an earlier study conducted by Robert Szafran in which a pretest was used to explore the effects of prior knowledge upon grades. Confirms that pretest scores and grade point average predict posttest scores. Presents a number of implications for teaching. (KO)

Examines the effect of prior knowledge and difficult vocabulary on students' recall of a passage from a social studies text. Concludes that vocabulary difficulty may affect microprocessing (development of coherent text base) while prior knowledge may affect macroprocessing (summarizing), and that these effects function independently, not…