The success of distance teaching depends largely on students' comprehension and appreciation of print communication. A communication gap exists, and many students are unable to recognize levels of complexity presented to them. Changes in course structure can help alleviate this learning problem. (MSE)

Measurements derived from reaction time, movement time, and an index of neural adaptability derived from averaged evoked potentials are significantly related to each other as well as to g factor scores extracted from a battery of 15 psychometric tests in a sample of 54 severely retarded adults. (Author/RD)

Using the "top-down" view of reading as a communication act, this article describes how "stories within stories," stories with real and implied authors and narrators, create a very complex communication situation. (HTH)

This investigation focused on the stage of formal operational reasoning in the acquisition of astronomy concepts, and on efficacy of different instructional experiences for facilitating cognitive change in college students. Included are selected results and directions for future research. (SK)

Cognitive performance of college students (N=225) on "An Inventory of Piaget: Developmental Tasks" (IPDT) was related to Scholastic Aptitude Tests and performance in both college chemistry lectures and laboratory classes. Relationship of Piagetian tasks to learning and instructional activities in introductory chemistry classes is…

Cognitive processes, characteristic of the early childhood learner, and potential benefits of learning through incorrect responses are discussed. Science and mathematical concepts viewed to be within the early learner's capabilities are noted, and ways to make such concepts more visable and viable within early childhood settings are detailed. (MP)

Formulates a model for viewing the transitions and losses of the aging process as opportunities for growth and self-enhancement. Reviews major categories of social-psychological transition events. Summarizes social-psychological resources that aging individuals bring to these events and discusses three processes of adaptation to transition…

Attempts to replicate findings demonstrating a relationship between the cognitive control (field articulation) and reading disability in school-aged children. Reading disability and nonreading disability groups were administered a series of cognitive control measures. Performance on field articulation significantly differentiated between children…

Enumerates six arguments against teaching developmental students thinking skills. Counterposes such arguments as "It takes too much time" and "Basic skills should take priority over thinking skills" with 12 attributes which, if developed, enhance students' ability to learn, choose, and act effectively, e.g., seeing relationships and analyzing…

Contends that cognitive skills can and should be taught. Cites supportive studies. Describes two of the four clinical modules forming Rockland Community College's developmental sequence. Examines objectives of the Effective Listening and Logic and Reasoning modules and procedures used in the courses. Looks at student resistance to cognitive skills…

Shows how a scale of questions can be used to develop and assess children's ability to comprehend information presented through different modalities and media. The scale's five levels, which indicate increasing difficulty in comprehension, are association, classification, seriation, integration, and extension. (Author/DB)

The roles and uses of symbols in mathematical thinking are discussed. The thinking process is further subdivided into specialization, generalization, and reasoning. (MP)

Describes a method to improve student comprehension of content area materials that involves three distinct readings, each followed by a progressively more detailed graphic overview of the content. (HTH)

This article reviews two experiments on the mapping and planning of actual (campus buildings) and hypothetical (ideal town facilities) items in a two-dimensional space. Direct mapping (planning) techniques are preferred over the method of pair comparisons, especially for the actual environment. (See TM 504 879-880) (Author/CTM)

Research on memory performance in children, the elderly, and individuals under stress is integrated with research on memory performance in college students. Assumptions include: (1) variation in attentional capacity within and between individuals, and (2) encoding operations vary in attentional requirements. Most of the data support the framework.…