This review examines 12 programs designed for use in classrooms to develop "general thinking skills" used in learning and problem-solving situations inside and outside classrooms. Analysis of program features focuses on the extent to which each program shows promise in helping students transfer the skills they develop through completing…

To determine if performing mental exercises (thinking skills which activate cognitive mental alertness) before taking a test affected test results, a study examined spelling test results of three ninth-grade English classes instructed by the same teacher. Subjects were of similar educational background and had similar characteristics…

In the context of the currently developing theory of procedural knowledge and cognitive skill, the task of learning procedures from written instructions must involve the formation of production rules from the information available in the text. Since this process has not been explored in great depth, a study examined the relation of the production…

Recent findings have shown that bizarre imagery can be an effective mnemonic aid when lengthy retention intervals are employed, and when the surrounding context contains more normal elements. Testing the hypothesis that an interaction exists between context and time of testing with bizarre images, a study paired 40 male and female undergraduates,…

A good spelling teacher teaches by "taste" rather than by "recipe": instead of strictly adhering to procedural outlines, good teachers alter their lessons according to students' needs. In addition, good teachers: (1) recognize the importance of visualization for spelling; (2) understand the two kinds of visualization--for…

This book provides a broad perspective on the basic curriculum questions educators face in the schools regarding the purposes, content, design, and structure of educational programs. In discussing basic issues of curriculum theory, some questions are raised: (1) How have people structured educational programs and instruction in an attempt to serve…

This paper seeks to explore the concept of the module as an instructional unit appropriate for use in college teaching. Although modules do not appear to be widely in use at the present time, the modular approach does offer promise for implementation at the college level. Thus, the paper calls attention to the concept of the module and its…

In developing teaching strategies for students who are poor writers but good readers, it is useful to explore the characteristics of good readers and of poor writers, and to consider implications for improving classroom practices. Good readers tend to put into practice four major cognitive strategies when they read: they plan, translate or…

Concept mapping, a technique based on David Ausubel's theory of meaningful learning, involves the organization of concepts into an hierarchical arrangement. Suggestions for incorporating this learning strategy into the biology classroom are presented and discussed. Steps in concept mapping include: (1) identifying important concepts in the study…

This book, working from an educator-defined set of curriculum tasks and their allotted time frames, provides a mechanism for linking instructional theory with classroom practices. Chapter titles are: (1) The Tasks of Curriculum Development; (2) Developing Major Goal Statements; (3) Assembling a Psychological Model for the Dominant Educable…

A description is given of the inception and progress of the East Area School News Service in Toledo, Oregon. The project began as a public relations endeavor in which a small group of junior high school students produced a series of one-minute tapes for the county's commercial radio stations, highlighting school events, classes, and special…

A mnemonic device is any technique or system to improve or aid the memory by use of formulas. Memory aids enjoyed great popularity in ancient times, but with the advent of literacy, the need for memorization was lessened and mnemonics were not taught regularly. However, recent research in cognitive psychology suggests that mnemonics, taught and…

In Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois a group of schools has united together to form the Beloit Educational Computing Consortium (BECC). A recent survey of selected teachers in BECC schools indicated that even though the schools do not consciously set out to teach creativity via computers, substantial creative behavior is demonstrated by the…

The intent of this handbook is to illustrate the relation between teaching and testing and to demonstrate how they can promote student learning. The first section, "Foundations," offers a discussion of broad ideas about teaching, learning, and testing, and their interrelationships. Chapter one describes generally the kinds of things that…

An experimental study utilizing 96 black grade school children substantiates the hypothesis that learning efficiency improves as the learner elaborates on the raw material presented to him. Suggestions are offered for the implementation of new learning strategies based on this mental elaboration approach which may be especially valuable for…