These guidelines for writing a learning activity packet (LAP) include a rationale for self instruction; suggested format for writing a LAP; analysis of the LAP format item by item; general instructions for writing a LAP; examples of performance objectives; affective domain attitudinal objectives; and student/teacher contracts for learning;…

Following a brief discussion of the value of poetry for gifted children, this paper outlines activities in a poetry unit for gifted children of middle school age. Addressed directly to students, the unit is divided into the following sections: (1) a list of behavioral objectives, which relate to responding to poetry, understanding poetic…

Organizational linkages between teacher education courses and various health care industries used to promote the professional growth and development of 14 University of Louisville (Kentucky) students are described. Students who took part in the program defined their own educational needs, wrote performance objectives to address these needs,…

The goals and output evaluation to aid in the effective allocation of scarce resources at the University of Leeds (in Britain) is the focus of the book. The first chapter describes the purpose of the book, defines the terms effectiveness and efficiency, and presents the theoretical background of the study. The following goals and performance…

After a two-week introductory period, participants in the Unified Studies Program at Boston State College will engage in a study of eight important institutions chosen by students at a planning session in November. Each institution will be dealt with for one full week. After the spring vacation, small groups (4 or 5 people) will engage in…

The learning contract, a written agreement between a student and a sponsor (teacher, counselor, "facilitator"), describes what the student wants to learn and states the basis on which credit is to be earned. Use of the latter concept to utilize community resources evidences the realization that learning takes place not only in schools but wherever…

Conclusions reached after three years of performance contracting experience and materials with which to judge the validity of the conclusions are presented in this overview of performance contracting. The conclusions are: (1) commercial firms are no better at teaching children than are public schools; (2) commercial firms expend as much or more…

This speech provides a summary of the Rand/HEW study of eight performance contract programs in the five cities of Gilroy, California; Texarkana, Arkansas; Gary, Indiana; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Norfolk, Virginia. The effects of performance contracting on instruction and on student learning, the program costs and management, the contractors,…

Approximately 225 citations of books, journal articles, and conference proceedings dealing with accountability are listed. The bibliography is subdivided into twelve categories--general, technical assistance, needs assessment, management systems, change strategies, performance objectives, performance budgeting, staff development, comprehensive…

In addition to the use of the lecture-discussion method of teaching theatre history, the author contends that this approach can be augmented by the process of "deviling" (adding spice to) the learning situation. At the University of Vermont, theatre history courses have been taught with a variety of deviling exercises, which include: (1)…

This report suggests some possibilities open to school boards for improving compensation methods and presents some new avenues of exploration and study for boards wishing to pursue such possibilities. Subjects covered in the report include (1) the concept of accountability, (2) differentiated staffing, (3) merit pay plans, (4) performance…

The concept underlying this performance contract program was based on maximizing the time students spend actively participating in learning activities and providing them with direct and immediate feedback or reinforcement. Continuous diagnosis and prescription were utilized to select materials and give intensified instruction by adjusting the…

There is much to be read and said about the value of group counselling. The central purpose of this paper is not to convince someone of the merits of group work but rather to describe a group counselling model which has met with some success. The Pyramid Problem Solving Model is based on a series of tasks which, if completed, propose to aid the…

Cited are examples of and considerations concerning the increasing possibility of legal suits against an institution or an instructor for failure on the part of a student to learn. (Author/MS)

Individualization of instruction for the learning-disabled and/or behavior-disordered student is considered a must. Contract teaching, a programed type learning plan, is described in five basic steps. Numerous effective learning experiences are possible. (EB)