The observational study investigated social interactions and on-task behavior of 20 severely multihandicapped children in a mainstreaming program. In comparison with nonhandicapped students, severely multihandicapped students interacted with teachers and aides more frequently but showed the same degree of on-task behavior. (Author/DB)

Academic Learning Time (ALT) is an indirect measure of student achievement in cases where permanent products are difficult to collect. Differences in the ALT physical education subcategories are examined for two different instructional situations, different activity units, and for student characteristics of sex, skill level, and special-needs…

The authors examine the content, time, teacher performance, and leadership policies which have been legislated in several states as a result of the national wave of discontent with the quality of education. Emphasis is on the need for implementation of these policies to be informed by recent reseacrh. (MT)

Describes RECOMP, a computer program developed at Louisiana State University which provides researchers with new ways of studying the composing process by analyzing and charting elements of the process as it occurs. Types of data gathered, RECOMP's place in current composition research and potential value of studies using RECOMP are also…

The study evaluated the effectiveness of teacher and peer supervision in increasing levels of on-task behavior and work performance of six severely retarded individuals. Results indicated that close supervision by either a teacher or peer was superior to the baseline condition, with peer supervision producing higher levels of on-task behavior.…

Students from 15 intact classes in grades 6 and 7 (N=142) from suburban schools in Perth, Australia, were used to investigate their time on task and achievement in process-oriented lessons. One finding noted is a positive relationship between achievement and student reasoning ability and engagement in planning and collecting tasks. (JN)

Test-taking skills not only should but can be taught. Discussed are four strategies of test wiseness which research has shown to be of value: (1) physical, emotional, and intellectual preparation; (2) time-use strategies; (3) error-avoidance strategies; and (4) guessing strategies. (RM)

High school students were observed to investigate time-on-task and learning gains. Classroom observation and learning gain measurement showed that a lecture/discussion instructional technique led to the highest student achievement. Use of seatwork caused the least amount of achievement. (DF)

Results of three experiments indicated that school achievement is predicted by intelligence and academic time on-task in traditionally-structured schools and by intelligence and student commitment in open structured schools. Increasing the amount of teacher-directed time would increase achievement in traditional schools but decrease achievement in…

Providing a high quality instructional program where the needs of students are met and preparing them for success in the world beyond the high school are paramount in developing a school's master schedule. Throughout the past, there have periodic movements to extend the school day and year in order to better meet these goals. What research has…

In an interview, Amitai Etzioni, a social scientist and director of the Center for Policy Research at George Washington University, discusses his ideas for stronger schools, at the heart of which are self-motivated students who are self-disciplined and responsible. (JMK)

Two experiments related inspection speed to text relevance. While specific goals or questions produced variable inspection speeds, a general purpose in reading did not. Text information related to reading goals was more likely to be retained. Results are explained in terms of storage demands imposed by each category of reading goal. (Author/RD)

Examines the publication "Time to Learn" from the perspective of its relation to programs of teacher education. Discussion of the book is organized around three criteria: (1) utility for teacher education, (2) the perceived reality of schools and their personnel, and (3) expected influence of the book on teacher education. (Author/DB)

Replicated 1982 study of student writing and nature of writing instruction in one Kentucky school district. Found that teachers in 1995 spent twice as much time teaching writing as in 1982 and that students spent more time on higher-level writing activities involving composition of extended text and less time on lower-level activities such as…

Describes the design and application of the Resource Questionnaire, an instrument developed at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) to gather information on the learning resources used by students, particularly computer-assisted learning. Topics include amount of time to use resources; usefulness of resources; ease of access; and preliminary…