This paper describes conceptual development and empirical research on student motivation to learn. It defines student motivation to learn as both a generalized trait and a situation specific state, and distinguishes it from related but different motivational conceptions that have less direct bearing on issues surrounding motivating student…

This paper describes the elements that most clearly identify and are most critical to a mastery learning program. Ways in which teachers can easily and efficiently implement these elements in their teaching and practices are outlined, along with procedures for evaluating their effectiveness in improving student learning. A discussion is presented…

This paper describes a demonstration of an instructional package consisting of original, interactive microcomputer-based simulations and accompanying faculty and student guides designed to assist in teaching introductory psychology. An Apple IIe computer and color monitor were used. The paper contains: (1) a purpose statement; (2) a brief summary…

Several studies have shown an improvement in the performance of motor skills following imagined performance of the skill, or "mental practice." One unresolved issue has centered on whether the effect being observed is in fact a practice effect. As one alternative, the effect may be a simple instance of planning when to use a skill, or…

The availability and application of particular memory strategies by deaf children and adults was examined. In the first study, 20 younger (mean age, 6 years, 3 months) and 20 older (8 years, 8 months) children's use of rehearsal strategies was examined with a serial probe task. All four types of stimuli (animals, nonsense shapes, hands, print)…

This discussion of some of the research literature that is relevant to the issue of teaching thinking provides descriptions of hypothetical, ideal thinkers, and problem solvers; considers the problem of teaching thinking and problem solving; and explores the issue of evaluating programs so that they can be revised and improved. Following Bransford…

A description is given of a Summer Critical Skills Institute program developed under the aegis of a number of private corporations in conjunction with several educational agencies. This program provides opportunities for teachers to learn how to foster students' problem solving abilities. The teachers, working directly with young learners and…

Ever since the early days of its existence, the field of psychology has been trying to achieve two different and somewhat contradictory objectives: to understand the "general principles" of the human mind and to explore the "uniqueness" of the individual mind. The latter direction has formed an independent subdiscipline within…

This paper is an expanded version of a talk given at a Generic Skills Workshop at the University of Wollongong, and was intended for academic staff from any discipline and general staff with an interest in teaching. The issues considered in the paper include the capacity of all to learn, the distinction between learning as understanding and…

The effects of instructions to use imagery, sentence, or repetition strategies were compared on original learning, negative transfer, retroactive interference (RI), and 48-hr. retention. (Editor)

The study investigated whether the recall of prose passages could be improved in a group of 30 learning disabled (LD) junior high students by training them to use visual imagery when they read. Students in an imagery training group received 30 minutes of instruction in using visual imagery to recall what they had read; students in a paraphrase…

Two learning strategies, visual imagery and self questioning, designed to increase reading comprehension were taught to six learning disabled (LD) secondary students. The Visual Imagery Strategy required the student to read a passage and to create visual images representative of the content; while the Self Questioning Strategy taught the student…

On the basis of two experiments on comprehension, it is argued that children go through at least three stages in acquiring the deictic contrasts between "here and there," and between "this and that." Children follow different routes through these states, since they choose different starting points in mastering deitic contrasts.…

Addresses the problem of poor listening skills in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners. A strategy to rectify the problem is suggested, and a set of procedures for a remedial course is outlined. (Author/CB)

Describes the need for school psychologists to know more about learning strategies so as to effectively facilitate the design and implementation of intervention programs and procedures. Four categories of learning strategies are discussed and a case study is presented to demonstrate how knowledge about these strategies can be used by the school…