Examines the development of students' writing competence in English, their second language. Explores Lev S. Vygotsky's perspective of the dialectal relationship between language and cognition. Discusses Vygotskyan concepts of mediation, higher mental functions, interaction, internalization, proximal development, and problem solving. (KEH)

Discusses the implementation of interactive educational software that was designed to enhance critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving in a university psychology course. Piagetian and computer learning perspectives are explained; the courseware package, PsychWare, is described; and the use of heuristics and algorithms in…

Conventional schooling too often ignores the influence of school culture on what is learned in school. Knowledge is situated, being in part a product of the activity, context, and culture in which it is developed and used; this is known as cognitive apprenticeship. Implications for understanding learning and teaching are discussed. (Author/BJV)

Examines research about learning disabled (LD) students and presents an LD learning-style profile. Describes a learning activity, TELSQA, that social studies teachers can use to encourage reading comprehension. TELSQA asks students to identify title (T), examine material (E), look for important words (L), self-question (SQ), and answer…

This study examined the effects that viewing dynamic assessment situations have on 60 teachers' expectations of two retarded children as learners. Results from an expectations questionnaire and other results indicate that teacher observation of a dynamic assessment raise teacher expectations of the assessed child's ability. (TJH)

Students need to be aware of their motives, of task demands, and of their own cognitive resources, and to exert control over the strategies appropriate for handling the task. Two intervention studies are described, one with at-risk university students and the other with high school students. (Author/MLW)

Describes the different effects for four types of activities on students' pronunciation of targeted second-language (L2) vocabulary used in oral presentations. Samples of pronunciation were elicited at three points. The observed effects over time are presented graphically, and the complex learning processes underlying these effects are discussed.…

Suggests that schools must catch up with their students' knowledge of computers and insist on engagement with the technology of learning. Presents four major areas in which technology can help educators shift the classroom focus from compliance and obedience to effectiveness and collaboration. (ET)

After a review of the literature on learning a second-language sound system, a study is reported that used only perceptual training to improve both pronunciation and perception of /r/ and /l/ among 39 Japanese university students of English. Results suggest that listening practice can improve pronunciation and perception. (Contains 32 references.)…

Discussion of how visual analogies aid students' understanding of math and science focuses on new types of representations that use computers. Topics addressed include understanding and cognitive performance; the role of representations in understanding, including examples; evidence of instructional effectiveness of new representations; and…

Describes the Virtual Reality Roving Vehicle project developed at the University of Washington to teach students in grades 4 through 12 about virtual reality. Topics include teacher workshops; virtual worlds created by students; learning outcomes compared with traditional instruction; and the effect of student characteristics, including gender, on…

Reports on the application of concept mapping in information science and identifies the benefits for teachers and students. Demonstrates that concept mapping is a promising technique for extending theoretical, concept-based knowledge; caters to individual learning differences; facilitates communication of knowledge by learners in verbal and…

This article describes a teaching model, Process-Based Instruction (PBI), that is applicable to mainstream classrooms containing students with diverse abilities. PBI enables teachers to individualize instruction by involving all students in the development of plans for curriculum and learning activities. With PBI, gifted students work at their own…

Examined whether at-risk preschoolers would show gains in expressive and receptive language after using selected computer-based activities in a teacher-directed, small group situation using direct-instruction techniques. Results indicated improvement in varying degrees, suggesting wider use of computers combined with direct instruction for…

Two experiments used causal models to examine possible relationships among age, learning rates, learning opportunities and forgetting rates. Found that forgetting rates declined markedly between early and late childhood. (ET)