In order to investigate the effects of sequence and synthesis in the teaching of taxonomically-related concepts, a study was conducted in which 27 students from Syracuse University were asked to examine printed instructions dealing with kinds of sailboats and then to respond to a test based on those instructions. The synthesizing structure…

Studies which have utilized low-error-rate linear type programs have not been able to compare the effectiveness of various modes of feedback in correcting error in programed learning. In the present study using 75 university students, it was possible to correct errors without teaching erroneous material by using materials designed to teach 30…

While a low error rate is considered desirable in programed instruction, it does not necessarily indicate an adequate program since the answer may be highly cued in ways unrelated to the major content of the items. A 377-item section of a psychology program was altered by choosing different words or phrases to leave blank for the subject to…

Three strategies frequently employed in individualized instruction were tested in a three-way repeated measures design that involved eight computer exercises over a period of 6 weeks. Exercises compared individual with paired study, pretests with no pretests, and serial with parallel mastery. Posttests revealed an advantage for individual study…

The author reviews the instructional programing languages which already exist and describes their methods of presentation, organization, and preparation. He recommends that all research and development projects remain flexible in their choice of programing language for a time yet. He suggests ways to adapt to specific uses and users, to exploit…

Some of the investigations concerned with the effectiveness of different modes of responding to programed and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) are reviewed. The findings suggest that when student familiarity with program content is low, or when there is little program redundancy as determined by the blackout ratio, constructing responses leads…

Discussion of (1) why students take notes, (2) research findings available in current literature, (3) inadequacies and omissions in the literature aimed at suggesting more profitable lines of research for future study, and (4) suggestions of guidelines for teachers and students which will more effectively exploit the potential of note taking.…

Examines the verbal-motor relationship in children who performed a Luria-type verbal control task, in which motor responses are initiated to positive stimuli and inhibited to negative stimuli. Subjects were 68 children from kindergarten, first and second grade. (MP)

Discusses the rationale for and results of an undergraduate course in calculus using modularized mastery level instruction. The salient features of the present program are instructor controlled learning with modularized materials, immediate results on quizzes, and lecture-recitation sessions. (VT)

Students at the University of Mississippi were surveyed to compare the usefulness of two types of workbooks in a library/freshman English bibliographic instruction program. The workbook used in the first year of the study required short answers to reference questions; the revised workbook, used the second year, required answers related to term…

Initial standing in language, reading, intelligence, socioeconomic status, and sex differences did not predict writing ability of third grade children any more accurately for structured than for nonstructured teaching methods, although children who did not spell or read as well as others were able to produce more volume in their writing when…

Examined whether determining a delinquent's preferred cognitive mode and instructing to it would facilitate academic achievement, in a study of 36 incarcerated adolescents. Results showed delinquents with relative strength in visual/spatial learning, which included the vast majority of delinquents, scored significantly higher under…

Nine televised news stories were presented to 60 college students under newscaster-only, newscaster-plus-film, or newscaster-plus-stills formats, and information gain was tested using a multiple-choice questionnaire administered immediately after viewing. Overall learning differences were nonsignificant. (Author)

Compares PLATO and non-PLATO student performance in an introductory computer programing course at the University of Illinois. Results indicate that PLATO students would recommend PLATO to friends, that the drop rate was higher for PLATO students than for non-PLATO, but that performance was equal for both groups. (RAO)

Discussion of computer-assisted testing focuses on a study of college students that investigated whether a computerized test which incorporated traditional test taking interfaces had any effect on students' performance, anxiety level, or attitudes toward the computer. Results indicate no difference in performance but a significant difference in…