Discusses small-group apprenticeships (SGAs) as a method for introducing cell culture techniques to high school participants. Teaches cell culture practices and introduces advance imaging techniques to solve various biomedical engineering problems. Clarifies and illuminates the value of small-group laboratory apprenticeships. (Author/KHR)

Discusses reflective practice and suggests that participants in computer-mediated conferencing can be encouraged to engage in reflecting about onscreen experiences with the help of a trained moderator. Provides examples from Open University (United Kingdom) classes and concludes that reflective practice helps participants to learn online and…

A paper by Gow and Kember suggesting that higher education does not promote independent learning and that students' use of deeper cognitive processes diminishes during higher education is criticized for not considering the method, frequency, and perceived importance of evaluation and grading practices more thoroughly. Authors of the original paper…

Studies the ability of skilled and unskilled college students to underline and summarize expository prose while studying a passage for a test. Finds that skilled summarizing produced better test performance than unskilled summarizing, skilled and unskilled underlining, and a read-only control. (MG)

Examination of differences in the language-learning strategies of monolingual and multilingual adults found no clear evidence that multilinguals were superior in language-learning abilities overall, although they were more able to adjust their learning strategies according to language task requirements. (Author/CB)

Madeline Hunter's statements and teaching examples lead to a conception of teaching best described as a teacher-centered, funnel model. The Hunter lesson design may be useful to science teachers for some instructional objectives, but it cannot be expected to improve the state of science education. Includes five references. (MLH)

The spelling difficulties of the adolescent dyslexic student are described, and techniques are presented to provide the student with the tools needed to cope with spelling requirements, including the study of vowel sounds, doubling the consonant following a short vowel, root words, and laws of probabilities. (JDD)

The technique of reconstructive elaboration is applied to content area learning, with illustrations and discussion of classroom practice. The purpose of the technique is to make content more familiar or more meaningful and link information to be remembered. (MSE)

Guidelines are presented for staff developers in preparing the content and planning for delivery of presentations. The basic planning techniques that are described are based upon learning theory and regard for the audience. (JD)

The Teacher Assessment Project at Stanford University has undertaken a series of "wisdom of practice" studies with 11 experienced high school history teachers. This article describes two teachers who achieve optimal results using contrasting teaching styles and classroom organization systems. Both are thoroughly knowledgeable in history…

Aurora (Colorado) Public Schools staff found that empowering students meant teaching students what enhances and what impedes learning; helping them recognize and develop their own personal learning strengths; teaching them specific thinking and learning strategies; and passing on learning responsibility to them. The key is willingness to share…

A study of 97 spelling competition finalists in grades 4-8 and their parents found that the students used dictionaries, science-related texts, and word lists to prepare. The students were intrinsically motivated and had a repertoire of spelling strategies which they used singly or in concert to maximize likely spellings of words. (JDD)

The accuracy of recall and use of appropriate rehearsal strategies was compared for learning-disabled and low-achieving adolescents. There was little difference in performance between the two groups; both groups tended to employ appropriate executive strategies. (Author/DB)

Discusses specific learning strategy tactics for acquiring verbal knowledge basic to certain disciplines, procedural skills (reading, using language, and problem solving), and self-motivation techniques applicable to all types of learning situations. All three tactics are necessary for creating a well-structured knowledge base. Includes 21…

Discusses the current information processing conceptualization of memory, the process of learning by analogy, and the overall desired outcomes of their use to acquire and retain new information. Instructional implications of how to use analogies are discussed, and a set of prescriptive guidelines for using them is presented. (69 references)…