States that writing is the one language outlet that enables a person to capture and examine thoughts. Notes the growing number of studies that help teachers evaluate writing as a learning technique. (MG)

An understanding of adult learning principles will enable staff developers to select the most appropriate learning environment for participants. The purpose and sample activities of formal, informal, or non-formal learning environments are presented. (JD)

An inquiry-oriented teacher education program entitled PROBE (Problem-Based Teacher Education) is described. The fundamental concept of PROBE is based on John Dewey's philosophy that learning is rooted in experience and knowledge derives from a process of inquiry. (JD)

Given that writing should be an instructional vehicle in almost every curricular subject and that college students should learn to think while reading and writing effectively, what techniques might help a hypothetical history instructor challenge students to learn something new while answering essay questions? This article provides some sample…

Presents a play tutoring strategy for integrating young developmentally delayed children into play with nondelayed peers. The method used simplifies sociodramatic play through the use of play formats. (RJC)

Interviews with 15 students identified learning and coping strategies for learning-disabled adult basic education students. A variety of learning strategies for dealing with reading, spelling, and life-skill tasks were uncovered. Learners were found to be contributing members of their social networks. (Author/JOW)

Eight students (aged 9 to 14) with learning disabilities were placed in a variety of spelling programs and followed a variety of study schedules. Results showed that students averaged more words spelled correctly when they used planning and self-recording strategies than when they did not use these student-directed strategies. (JDD)

Examined developmental differences in the acquisition and extension of an organizational strategy in 2 experiments involving 242 children in grades 3, 4, 5, and 7. Levels of performance were greater for sets of typical items than for sets of atypical items at all grade levels. (RJC)

Investigated 112 four-, five-, and seven-year-olds' ability to perform competently in referential communication after training in asking categorical questions. Results indicated that children were capable of scanning a stimulus array while searching for a varied number of speaker-described targets. (RJC)

Highlights new directions in cognitive research. Instead of searching for universally valid principles, new style reseachers are studying how people learn particular things in particular environments. Findings need to be corroborated by numerous researchers using a variety of observational and experimental methodologies. Includes two references.…

Gifted students can learn to direct their thinking to maximize learning and creative production. They do this by stating what they intend to do, choosing strategies and appropriate conditions for thinking, and self-monitoring. The article describes techniques for developing self-directed thinking and applies these techniques to a class assignment.…

A model of skills needed by a student to understand a mathematics lesson taught by a good teacher is presented. The model contains a variety of cognitive competencies. Functioning of the model during a two-day lesson sequence is described. (TJH)

Studies spelling bee finalists' early and current reading and spelling experiences. Finds that gifted spellers show an early interest in language arts activities, pass through developmental stages far earlier than normal children, and rely on visual memory strategies, word meanings, and saying/writing words to master orthography. (RS)

Factors influencing students' interpretation of learning tasks are discussed and two qualitatively different types of student interpretation are identified--procedural and content-related. The implications for research on the alternative frameworks used by students are discussed, including the identification of different levels of alternative…

Discussion of memory for text information focuses on an earlier study which appeared to show that it is better for students to study a summary of a textbook chapter than to study the chapter itself. Topics discussed include recognition memory, recall, how to test memory, and psychological research. (10 references) (LRW)