This study found that use of music as a reinforcer was highly effective in increasing productive and decreasing nonproductive behavior of 6 competitive swimmers (ages 12-16) during the dry-land portion of a practice session. Subjects rated the musical reinforcement favorably and elected to have the procedure continued. (Author/DB)

Entertainment is a valid instructional strategy to which students respond. Both traditional and high-tech methods of task engagement can motivate students without sacrificing rigor. Interesting topics can be taught by interesting instructors in interesting ways. (SK)

Two experiments analyzed the single-alternative form of the matching law as a description of student behavior. Four students (ages 8-10) exhibiting off-task behavior were exposed to variable-interval schedules of social reinforcement contingent on academic engagement. Results provided evidence that subject behavior was under control of the…

In most cases, suspension represents playtime. In a Louisiana middle school, suspended students are given one of many books (related to their offenses) to read. If students fail a comprehension test, they must read the book during in-house detention. Suspension becomes both punitive and productive, since the books and accompanying exercises are…

Twenty-eight adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder were provided either massage therapy or relaxation therapy for 10 consecutive school days. The massage therapy group, but not the relaxation therapy group, self-rated as happier, and observers rated them as fidgeting less following the sessions. Teachers reported more time on…

Describes a study that determined the relative effectiveness of different types of job aids in facilitating college student achievement of different types of educational objectives, and examined the relationship that exists between the different types of job aids and the amount of time it takes students to complete their instruction. (Author/LRW)

In this article, the author profiles KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School in Lynn, Massachusetts. The school's mission is to "create an environment where the students of Lynn will develop the academic skills, intellectual habits and character traits necessary to maximize their potential in high school, college and the world beyond." KIPP…

The authors demonstrate that people discount delayed outcomes as a result of perceived changes over time in supplies of slack. Slack is the perceived surplus of a given resource available to complete a focal task. The present research shows that, in general, people expect slack for time to be greater in the future than in the present. Typically,…

Studies have suggested that students' computer attitudes are related to their success in learning to use computer technology. The current study investigates how positive attitudes are "transferred" into higher learning achievement, and determines an intermediate variable between computer attitudes and computer learning and achievement--time spent…

The primary purpose of this exploratory study is to provide insight on how to use online discussions to foster collaborative learning and how to design assessment processes to evaluate the effectiveness of those discussions. This study focuses on the pedagogical role of discussion, effective practices in discussion, guidelines for creating…

This study investigated the role that computer technology plays in transforming the learning process in higher education. Specifically, we looked at the relationship between computer-technology use, active learning, and perceived course effectiveness. The sample consisted of 1966 students in 81 graduate and undergraduate classes at a large, urban…

There will always be circumstances in which children do not follow adults' instructions or are unwilling to participate in certain activities. When noncompliance become recurrent, a child's functioning in home, school, and community settings can be affected. Often, these children miss out on a variety of experiences by virtue of being unengaged.…

A series of experiments introduced interruptions to the execution phase of simple Tower of London problems and found that the opportunity for preparation before the break in task reduced the time cost at resumption. Retrieval of the suspended goal was facilitated when participants were given the opportunity to encode retrieval cues during an…

Poverty is a strong predictor of lack of academic success in reading, and schools serving high-poverty populations are more likely to show weak performance in high-stakes tests. But some schools manage to beat these odds, with students outperforming peers from more advantaged neighborhoods. Why? The author showcases six high-poverty schools where…

Background: Observation studies of students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems in natural classroom situations are costly and relatively rare. Aims: The study enquired how teacher ratings are anchored in actual student classroom behaviours, and how the behaviour of children with ADHD problems differs from their…