Test-taking skills not only should but can be taught. Discussed are four strategies of test wiseness which research has shown to be of value: (1) physical, emotional, and intellectual preparation; (2) time-use strategies; (3) error-avoidance strategies; and (4) guessing strategies. (RM)

High school students were observed to investigate time-on-task and learning gains. Classroom observation and learning gain measurement showed that a lecture/discussion instructional technique led to the highest student achievement. Use of seatwork caused the least amount of achievement. (DF)

Results of three experiments indicated that school achievement is predicted by intelligence and academic time on-task in traditionally-structured schools and by intelligence and student commitment in open structured schools. Increasing the amount of teacher-directed time would increase achievement in traditional schools but decrease achievement in…

Providing a high quality instructional program where the needs of students are met and preparing them for success in the world beyond the high school are paramount in developing a school's master schedule. Throughout the past, there have periodic movements to extend the school day and year in order to better meet these goals. What research has…

In an interview, Amitai Etzioni, a social scientist and director of the Center for Policy Research at George Washington University, discusses his ideas for stronger schools, at the heart of which are self-motivated students who are self-disciplined and responsible. (JMK)

Two experiments related inspection speed to text relevance. While specific goals or questions produced variable inspection speeds, a general purpose in reading did not. Text information related to reading goals was more likely to be retained. Results are explained in terms of storage demands imposed by each category of reading goal. (Author/RD)

Examines the publication "Time to Learn" from the perspective of its relation to programs of teacher education. Discussion of the book is organized around three criteria: (1) utility for teacher education, (2) the perceived reality of schools and their personnel, and (3) expected influence of the book on teacher education. (Author/DB)

Replicated 1982 study of student writing and nature of writing instruction in one Kentucky school district. Found that teachers in 1995 spent twice as much time teaching writing as in 1982 and that students spent more time on higher-level writing activities involving composition of extended text and less time on lower-level activities such as…

Describes the design and application of the Resource Questionnaire, an instrument developed at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) to gather information on the learning resources used by students, particularly computer-assisted learning. Topics include amount of time to use resources; usefulness of resources; ease of access; and preliminary…

Examination of the effects of difficulty level of academic tasks on the behavior of 2 subjects (ages 9 and 12) with severe behavior disorders found that difficult tasks were generally associated with lower percentages of time-on-task and higher percentages of time engaged in disruptive behavior than were easy task conditions. (Author/DB)

A study examined the effectiveness of a 10-week social skills instruction program for seven students (ages 8-9) at risk for antisocial behavior who were unresponsive to a schoolwide primary intervention program. Results indicated lasting decreases in both disruptive behaviors in the classroom and negative social interactions on the playground.…

Describes the use of videoconferencing for field trips in elementary and secondary education. Discusses how it works, videoconferencing providers, time involved, costs, amount of interactivity, supplemental hands-on material, content standards, technical support, class preparation, and the need for back-up plans in case of technical difficulties.…

A classwide peer tutoring procedure was implemented in an urban elementary school classroom of 23 students, to improve students' spelling performance. Results indicated the untrained or collateral tutoring behaviors increased the academic response frequencies of three tutees and the weekly spelling achievement of one target tutee. (Author/DB)

An extensive descriptive study of high school physical education programs in 15 urban Canadian high schools collected and analyzed data to provide insight into student (N=225) activity as an indication of physical education quality. Motor skill and cognitive development activities were observed and analyzed. (IAH)

In an investigation of the distractibility of hyperactive children and controls (N=24) in a focused attention task, differences in task efficiency were not significant. Differences in error percentages were associated with IQ. Variable reaction times in hyperactives are not to be explained in terms of a focused attention deficit. (JW)