Research on the characteristics of effective computer-based education (CBE) courseware suggests that content structure and levels of questions presented determine whether the deep cognitive processing requisite for learning takes place. A decision table of types of instructional questions covering Bloom's taxonomy is presented and discussed.…

Concludes that while external class interruptions might be a major source of irritation to teachers, they may not have much of a detrimental effect on student learning. Suggests that teachers use nonverbal techniques to cope with such interruptions in order to maintain classroom order and instructional continuance. (FL)

The article reviews the controversy over the information processing model as an approach to diagnosing and remediating learning disabled students. The Slingerland Screening Tests are suggested as an alternative tool for examining information processing skills. Advantages of the test include direct application to classroom tasks. (Author/CL)

Critiques what learning appears to mean in the typical American school setting and suggests a more appropriate construct of learning. Explains how this construct will enable a clearer vision of how writing fits as a means of enhancing learning. (HTH)

Discusses the role of language in drama in education. Examines the levels at which drama can enhance learning and understanding of language: social, symbolic, and reflective. (HTH)

Explores a number of innovative professional development strategies for teachers. Examines the development and role of a teacher support group in Canada and its efforts to develop a language-process oriented classroom. (HTH)

Describes a study that investigated learning skills as a determinant of future academic achievement. Compared cultural effects between the two largest groups in the study, indigenous (British) and Asian children, and examined adverse ratings by sex, ethnicity, preschool experience, and age. Considered the findings within the context of early…

In two experiments, instruction in a hierarchical summarization study strategy focusing on the organization of ideas in a text was compared with the procedure of answering questions after reading. Fifth-grade student comprehension and memory were enhanced but were found to be affected by mastery of the strategy. (Author/CM)

Study of processes by which Liberian apprentice tailors learn their craft is the basis for questioning the traditional dichotomy of "formal" and "informal" education. Used as an analogy to demonstrate that anthropologists need not leave the study of learning to the psychologists, but can make valuable contributions by pursuing…

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative efficiency of verbal and visual adjunct aids for concrete and abstract prose learning. For the abstract passage, verbal aids worked best and visual aids were somewhat disruptive. The concrete passage did not demonstrate the equivalency for two types of aids. (Author/PN)

Two experiments investigated whether instructions to students about how and what to learn can facilitate learning as effectively as adjunct postquestions. Adjunct-question, instruction, and adjunct-question plus instruction groups performed significantly better than the control group in recall of verbatim factual information and in responding to…

Because the current approach to education is basically inadequate, educators should not rely on relatively minor adjustments to achieve major changes in student achievement. Urges development of totally new concepts of education based on recently gained scientific knowledge about the brain's learning processes, described briefly here. (PGD)

Examines the theory behind a classroom process for clarifying one's inner voice. Argues for helping students gain control of their lives by questioning and reacting to those controlling them. Concludes that teachers and students will discover that this type of inner voice orientation for teaching is ever-expanding. (FL)

Outlines social psychological approach to language and ethnicity which allows understanding processes underlying group members' desires to create distinctive ethnolinguistic varieties. Evaluates Gardner's and Clement's social psychological models of second language acquisition in interethnic contexts; proposes specific social psychological…

The operation of means-ends analysis (MEA) involves attempts at reducing differences between problem states and the goal state. It was paradoxically found that the more problem solvers knew of the goal state, the less they learned of the problem structure during the solution process. (PN)