Outlines features of constructivism and collaborative learning as they underpin a proposed model of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) support for learning. Evaluates the model in three projects involving ICT in primary, secondary, and higher education learning environments in the United Kingdom and considers the effectiveness of…

Visual and auditory processing of complex sentences was examined among 8- through 11-year-olds. Findings suggested a U-shaped learning pattern for on-line processing of restrictive relative clauses. Off-line accuracy scores showed different patterns for good and poor comprehenders. Incorrect local attachment strategy use was related to sentence…

Describes the development of a computer-based learning courseware that presented associative learning between abstract and concrete domains and discusses results of a study of college students that determined whether various audio-visual combinations and differences in IQ levels influenced learning and long-term retention using the courseware.…

In this interview, psychologist Andrew Meltzoff dispels some popular myths and discusses insights from cognitive developmental psychology to enlighten educators. Studying infants and listening to young children has led experts to revise their ideas about the thought/language relationship. Play activities are profound learning experiences. (MLH)

Investigated the impact of the school library resource center on learning in Scottish secondary schools. Determined what teachers, students, and librarians perceived to be the learning experiences taking place; and examined specific examples of school library activity to identify whether the learning was in fact happening and how it might be…

Causal modeling was used to examine how primary students' language ability interacted with pace and redundancy of instructional language during an expository science lesson to explain students' attention and learning. Language ability and pace, mediated by students' attention to the lesson, accounted for variance in learning outcomes. Higher…

Discusses online teaching and distance education and considers philosophical principles that offer a foundation for the online teaching and learning process. Topics include the teacher's role; creating a class syllabus; moderating online discussions; authentic assessment; and critical thinking. (Author/LRW)

Surveys of 176 bilingual preK-5 teachers in San Antonio (Texas) schools investigated bilingual teachers' beliefs about the nature of knowledge and the influence of those beliefs on teaching practices. Respondents had specific beliefs about how bilingual children learn, and their beliefs were influenced by prior experiences, especially professional…

In order to examine the influence of interactive media on children's story memory, first-grade children experienced a computer-based story in one of four presentation modes, two of which were interactive. In the interaction groups, there was no relation between the amount of interaction with the story and subsequent memory. (Author)

An adult read to 12 children from a regular paper book. Twenty-four children explored a similar electronic book. For half of this group, the electronic book was with and for half without restrictions on games. Regular book format was more supportive of learning story content and phrasing; both formats supported internalization of features of…

Root word vocabulary was studied in two normative samples (English-speaking, wide socioeconomic range) and in an advantaged sample. Findings suggest that greater efforts should be made to foster vocabulary acquisition in the primary years, and that a rough vocabulary curriculum sequence can be identified for the elementary years. (Author)

One hundred forty fourth graders were asked to solve proportion problems about juice-mixing situations both before and after an intervention that used a manipulative model or other materials in three experiments. Results indicate different approaches appear to be necessary to facilitate children's proportional reasoning, depending on the reasoning…

Describes a study of the similarities and differences in graph-related interpretations between scientists and college students engaged in collective graph interpretation. Concludes that while many students learned to provide correct answers to scientific graphing questions, they did not come to make linguistic distinctions or increase their…

Examines the effects of adding a prediction/discussion phase at the beginning of a three-phase learning cycle involving exploration, term introduction, and concept application. Finds that the instructional innovation produced significant gains relative to the use of process skills, logical thinking skills, science concepts, and scientific…

Discusses online teaching and the learning process. Topics include distance education and the teacher's role; creating a detailed class syllabus; moderating online discussions; authentic assessment; and cultivating critical thinking skills. Includes a pre-discussion paper and post-discussion summary. (LRW)