Examines the question of how to restructure college campuses to encourage the new kinds of collaborative and contextual learning vital for the future of higher education. Because these new forms of learning draw on the interplay of both the university's and community's resources, this quest is described as the search for a college commons.…

Discusses a redefinition of learning and considers implications for instructional design and educational technology. Topics include creativity; changing performance capability by instruction; preparing students for lifelong learning; interactions with our environment; the role of curiosity and challenge; learning as dialogue; and emotional needs.…

This interview with Glenn Snelbecker, a leader in the field of educational technology, includes educational background; integrating theories of psychology; the use of theories; mentors; important reading for doctoral students; and the future of instructional technology. (LRW)

Discusses the elements of constructivist instruction/teaching. Constructivism is seen as ultimate decentralization, with student and teacher able to make decisions regarding what and how they learn. The few studies on leadership and constructivism note the power of constructivist leadership in decentralizing schools and even classes or teams, with…

Tests a learning productivity model for undergraduates using hierarchical linear modeling. Perceptions of the campus environment influenced student learning productivity by affecting institution-level student effort, learning efficiency, and student gains. Student affairs professionals can promote higher levels of student learning by helping to…

Presents a review of the basic foundations and recent challenges of the main instructional design traditions. Topics include learner characteristics; learner-controlled instruction; learning environments; the role of instructional interventions; computer-based instruction and other new technologies; and new theories of learning and design.…

A review of research and theory on cognitive processes and their relationship to instructional technique since the early 1970s looks at the contributions of schema theory and artificial intelligence and their instructional implications, including cognitive load theory, worked examples for learning problem solving, and physical vs. mental…

Discussed is a constructivist view of mathematics education. The basic tenets and goals are described. The role of the student and teacher are highlighted. The constructivist and traditional views of instruction are compared and contrasted. (KR)

Discusses the range of disciplinary traditions that underlie many current second-language acquisition models, and attempts to identify some of the issues that these models have generated. (104 references) (GLR)

Major approaches of describing or examining linguistic data from a potential target language (input) are analyzed for adequacy in addressing the concerns of second language learning theory. Suggestions are made for making the best of these varied concepts of input and for reformulation of a unified concept. (MSE)

Discusses the role of instructional design in the development of learning theory. Topics discussed include the acquisition of knowledge and skills; models of teaching; the teaching and acquisition of concepts; influences on retention; and the integration of procedures, principles, and concepts for solving problems. (20 references) (LRW)

A survey of 772 teachers revealed that only 16.2 percent were able to name or describe a learning theory that supports their classroom teaching practices. Findings also suggest that many teachers cannot differentiate between learning theory and teaching practices. Recommendations for teacher education conclude a discussion of survey results. (IAH)

Empirical parallels between repetition priming (RP) and automaticity predicted by the instance theory were studied in 4 experiments with a total of 196 introductory psychology students. RP was viewed as the first few steps toward automaticity. Characteristics RP shares with automaticity, beyond a general speed-up with practice, are discussed. (SLD)

Explores the application of social construction theory to the college composition classroom. Suggests that writing instructors should (1) examine the interpretive communities they seek to create; and (2) question what is meant by introducing students to college-level discourse. Argues that the entire university system must address this issue. (KEH)

Reviews changes in the approach to language learning that have taken place during the past 50 years. A new relationship between cognition and language has led to new ways of researching language learning and indicates the need for new curriculum that meet the needs of the adult second language learner. (76 references) (Author/OD)