This practicum was designed to demonstrate the value of Gestalt learning theory in teaching a unit of study on air pollution in Polk County, Florida. Students researched specific viewpoints based upon assigned positions in regard to air pollution (Cattlemen's Association, Florida Phosphate Council, Florida Citrus Mutual, Mid-State Lung…

This speech focuses on the thesis that most good teachers cannot explain the psychological principles underlying their sound teaching practices. They appear to be unaware of the large body of theoretical and experimental evidence supporting one educational procedure over another. Through reference to a film showing a teacher teaching social…

This learning package assists in selecting learning strategies. Upon completion of this package, the learner should be able to: (a) define the term "learning strategies"; (b) list at least five different examples of learning strategies; (c) locate, within printed context, examples of three different strategies; (d) plan and teach a lesson which…

An overview of Noam Chomsky's theories about transformational grammar and phonology is given. Since Chomsky was interested in characterizing what it is to know a language, the ways in which we demonstrate knowledge of our native language are discussed in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on describing how the transformational approach actually…

This document applies the tools of economics (consumer choice theory, wage theory, and collective choice) to develop an economic theory of learning. It examines the choice process of acquiring knowledge. The choice of one program (physics) over others (history, math) is clearly important in that physics knowledge and history knowledge cannot be…

Designed for teachers and other professional school personnel, the text presents the characteristics of children with learning and behavioral handicaps accompanied with an illustrative case study. The three variables of teaching (instructional media, school environment, and student behavior) are described in terms of effective manipulation of such…

In this report, the nature of anxiety is considered in historical perspective, and the concepts of trait and state anxiety are discussed. Methods for measuring these constructs are also described. In addition, hypotheses about the effects of anxiety on learning, formulated in terms of Spence-Taylor Drive Theory and Spielberger's Trait-State…

The effects of three experimental treatments on second and third grade, disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged children's choices between an immediate smaller and deferred larger reward were investigated in a 2 x 3 factorial design. In one condition, subjects were required to earn the larger reinforcement by working during the delay period. A second…

This bibliography is an annotated reading guide for teachers and others in the social sciences who seek a better understanding of the many facets of curriculum theory, concepts, and the terminology used in the Curriculum Materials Analysis System (CMAS). The references have been arranged by the categories of the analysis system and alphabetically…

This is a bibliography of 81 papers and books published in the years 1957-1970 relevant to the subject of verbally-elicited responses that are in accordance with principles of classical conditioning. Of these publications, 24 are by Staats--one of the bibliographers--and his associates. (MF)

The major hypothesis of this study (based on the psychology of Clark Hull) was that the learning of a perceptual-motor act from films will be more effective as the film presentation approaches an exact representation of the learner himself performing the act to be learned. The problem was to discover the most effective way to represent the learner…

A combination of a progress report and a technical report, this paper should prove useful as an aid in planning future research, and should prove generally useful to those interested in communication processes by means of sound films, as well as to those who work in the areas of radio and television. Effectively there are two halves to the paper.…

The concern of this book is with the underlying forces responsible for the very existence of schools and for what schools accomplish. The author offers a "theory of spontaneous schooling," in which mechanisms for academic growth are found when adults and children are in contact in almost any kind of administrative arrangement. Schooling is seen as…

A curriculum conference for New York school administrators interested in the middle school concept concentrated on three objectives: (1) To gain insight into the principles of early adolescent education, (2) to become aware of the strengths of the various theoretical approaches of educating the adolescent, and (3) to look at the pragmatics of…

A revised English curriculum, based upon different kinds of literary criticism, is counseled in this two-part paper. Part 1 identifies four kinds of criticism--formalist, synoptic, extrinsic, and stylistic. A conventional English Curriculum is briefly outlined. Curricular theories are discussed and positive and negative attempts to define…