In February 1992 "Kappan," Frank Smith advocated formal reading instruction be abolished and teachers merely read to students and turn them over to authors. This article argues that the scientific study of learning is essential. This country can ill afford to rear generation of illiterates who have learned lazy, inefficient work habits from being…

Maintains that (1) research questions must address intra- and extraorganism contextual relations and must be multidisciplinary in scope; (2) research must be sensitive to contextual variability and individual differences; and (3) scholars must develop empirically generative models linking the development of human beings with changing contexts. (BC)

Research has posited a set of rather obvious, ordinary, and predictable factors making up an effective school. Three case studies from Britain, Africa, and Thailand are used to explore different contexts for school administration and how the resulting administrative reality can contribute to school effectiveness. Reforms cannot succeed without a…

Studied practical intelligence, defined as, "the fit between an individual's problem-solving style and the opportunities afforded by the social context." Subjects were adolescents in college-preparatory or vocational training tracks. Results showed that the two groups interpreted practical problems differently and proposed different…

Presents citations in the ERIC database on testing and assessment in the social studies. Includes items concerning the nature of testing, tests as guides for curriculum, the impact of testing, and the validity of performance grades. Suggests works on context effect, history instruction, and what students need to know. (DK)

Semantic context and keyword treatment conditions facilitated recall of a German word to fit a German context sentence on immediate and delayed tests for 140 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students taking first- or second-year German. For second-year students, context treatment facilitated recall of an English word when given the German word.…

Discusses the concept of ideology; analyzes the construction of meaning in music; discusses similarities and differences relative to mathematics, focusing on mathematical proof; and provides a framework to make sense of the mathematics curriculum and the way in which knowledge is constructed within it. (Contains 39 references.) (MKR)

Interactional patterns of 64 institutionalized persons with severe/profound multiple developmental disabilities revealed that they learned meaning through the understanding of situational events with others. Three behavioral patterns are differentiated: interference, participation, and ambiguity. Professional understanding of the social and…

This article describes a model that deals with classroom behavior problems by incorporating contextual or setting events with traditional learning theory models. The paper discusses examples of setting events that affect children's aggression, ways to assess the effects of setting events on student behavior, and ways in which teachers can…

An agenda for research on standards for professional licensure and certification examinations is outlined. The relationship between scores and standards is explored, and major classes of standards are described. Topics for future research are discussed in the areas of judgment basis, process efficiency, group effects, and content and expertise…

The stochastic interactive activation and competition (SIAC) model of perception is presented and tested using several data sets from previous research. The asymptotic predictions of the SIAC model are compared with those of the fuzzy logical model of perception (FLMP). Evidence favoring the FLMP is reviewed. (SLD)

Working class and upper-middle class mothers were videotaped interacting with their toddlers in four settings. Samples of the mothers' adult-directed speech were also collected. Observed were social class differences in the mothers' child-directed speech and some parallel differences in the mothers' adult-directed speech. This may reflect more…

The political context of evaluation is compared for the United States and developing countries, and a framework is proposed for discussing the political context of evaluation. Significant differences are the role that international donor agencies play in developing countries and the emphasis on stakeholder evaluation in the United States. (SLD)

Outlines a method of direct supervision which has been applied to group employment counseling. Focuses on a means of supervisory observation. Suggests emphasizing the development of a positive context, minimizing the intrusiveness of the observation, and formulating the debriefing using a strength challenge format to effectively utilize this…

Context is a powerful tool for understanding educational organizations, devising professional development programs for school administrators, and preparing future administrators. Specific strategies should be expanded for harnessing that power in analyzing educational settings, transferring knowledge across settings, and developing appropriate…