This study investigated two statistics classroom environments that "a priori" appeared to hold promise as being motivationally effective classrooms. One environment (2 classes totaling 51 students) was at the high school level and the other environment (4 classes, 70 students) was at the graduate level. The study focused on students'…

In fall 1993, Coffeyville Community College (CCC) in Kansas announced the implementation of a new program known as Quantifying Learning Outcomes (QLO), one component of the college's Student Outcomes Assessment Plan. QLO calls for a clear articulation of CCC's goals regarding instructional support materials within the next 6 to 12 months; the…

As part of a project to learn more about the technical assistance process of helping high needs schools to develop the organizational capacity to support effective school performance, this study examined changes after two years of technical assistance delivery in a high needs school district. The district was in a rural area with one elementary…

Noting that lack of student motivation is one of the primary reasons students drop out of school and that lack of student motivation is particularly evident at the onset of adolescence, this study compared multidimensional motivation gains of middle school students who were heterogeneously grouped according to motivational level to gains of those…

The main purpose of this study is to determine whether a class addressing language learner passivity in conversations with native speakers will lead students to take a more active role. The thesis aims to determine if earlier research by Long and Holmen showing that language learners are passive in conversation with native speakers of English. It…

Examines some traditional instructional strategies used to improve textual materials for learning at a distance, including advance organizers, overviews, pretests, objectives, and inserted questions, together with devices in typography and graphics. Research in each area is reviewed and guidelines are given for using each strategy. An extensive…

Examines congruence between science content structure of instructional materials and students' structural representations before and after science instruction. Eighth-grade science students (N=30) were given concept-structuring tasks before and after studying instructional materials to assess changes in student structural representations.…

Five methods for analyzing data from pretest-post-test research designs are discussed. Analysis of gain scores, with pretests as a covariate, is indicated as a superior method when the assumptions underlying covariance analysis are met. (Author/GDC)

At Texas A&M University, a diagnostic pretesting system has been developed for use in the Freshman Biology Program. The system provides a profile of student competency levels for students, instructors, and the course coordinator that indicates where the curriculum of methods needs to be altered, and identifies students who need remedial help.…

Studies concerning the impacts of electronic calculators on mathematics-related achievement and attitudes were reviewed. Results showed support for the computational benefits due to calculator use, but support for conceptual benefits was minimal. Hypothesized changes in general attitudes toward mathematics for those using calculators was…

Whether text comprehension strategies could be taught to children with poor decoding and reading skills was studied with 428 fourth graders (poor readers) and 167 students from schools for the learning disabled. Clear benefits of training were apparent at posttesting, but maintenance test performance did not show prolonged benefits, suggesting a…

Describes a study that examined potential predictor variables and their relationship to computer aversion among preservice teachers. It was hypothesized that prior experience, ownership of a personal computer, and critical thinking ability would be negatively related to computer aversion, and that an introductory computer literacy course would…

A study assessed the effectiveness of a satellite training program developed for the United States Postal Service and compared it with traditional classroom training for the same courses. Results show slight but statistically significant differences between the two methods of instruction for learning job-related skills. (Author/LRW)

This aptitude-treatment interaction (ATI) study was designed to clarify the relationship between the aptitude variable spatial visualization and two modes of presentation of linear absolute-value inequalities. The modes of presentation include computer-enhanced instruction (CEI) and traditional. (Author/KR)

Discussion of interaction in computer-based tutorials (CBT) focuses on a study that compared the performance of adult learners from training with three CBTs that varied the level of interactivity. The degrees of learner control, system control, and domain control are discussed, and the Lotus spreadsheet tutorials used are described. (24…