This paper focuses on the role of prior learning assessment in the life long learning of adults in the United States. The introduction stresses the increasing importance of life long learning in American society. The second section reviews prior learning and its assessment. Prior learning is formally defined as learning which has been acquired…

Self-regulation components linked to academic problem-solving were studied. Cognitive process instruction on analogy problems was given to 63 undergraduates on a Monday. On Wednesday, problem-solving performance within the inductive reasoning domain was assessed with 30 Remote Associate Test (RAT) problems. On Friday, problem-solving performance…

This report examines the articulation and transfer policies of Maryland and Missouri and reviews the extent to which these guidelines provide for a seamless transition between community colleges and state universities. The author begins by defining the key concepts relevant to this study (e.g., transfer, articulation, native student, transfer…

Suggesting that properly designed and thoughtfully implemented discussion tasks can be an effective learning tool, this Digest discusses a learning-through-discussion framework that is designed to promote creativity and generate meaningful interaction and understanding for the learner. It discusses that goals of discussion and describes four…

Reviews the guidelines for the construction of an advance organizer as proposed by David Ausubel and examines why the term has so many possible definitions. (FL)

This paper describes the rule-assessment approach to cognitive development. The basic question that motivated the rule-assessment approach is how people's existing knowledge influences their ability to learn. Research using the rule-assessment approach is summarized in terms of eight conclusions, each illustrated with empirical examples.…

Investigates the effects of prior knowledge, presentation time, and selected task demands on information processed by college students of two-dimensional visual art that displayed varying abstraction levels. Results indicated that the amount and type of information subjects remembered about visual art were influenced by each of these factors.…

The hypothesis that one factor underlying the feeling of knowing is the degree of prior learning for the sought-after item was explored. The magnitude of the feeling of knowing nonrecalled items increased with the degree of prior learning. (Author/PN)

Explains why writing is a mysterious, complex process dependent on a lifetime of experiencing, feeling, and thinking, and why English teachers should be emphasizing writing to an audience more than the learning of mechanical rules. (RL)

Describes a Texas community college program in which students earn "equivalent" college credits for learning experiences outside the traditional college classroom. Discusses qualifications for the program, companies cooperating in this program, and how the program works. (CT)

Describes a study of the background knowledge of college students from remedial English, regular composition, and English-as-a-second-language classrooms, indicating that remedial students often do not have the background information network necessary to cope with materials. (HTH)

A statewide faculty development project initiated in Oregon is described. Suggestions for planning faculty development programs--ranging from how to select faculty to how to discuss faculty concerns about experiential learning--are provided. A variety of new roles and tasks for faculty are suggested. (MLW)

A description is given of the system developed by the College Board during the past three decades through which, on the basis of examination, more than 1,500 colleges award degree credit for prior learning. Over 140,000 individuals take the examinations each year. (Author/MSE)

Examines background knowledge and strategy knowledge from a broad view to better understand how they contribute to elementary-age students' reading comprehension of both narrative and expository texts. Indicates that background knowledge specific to the content of the text being read begins to diminish in importance at about grade 4, when strategy…

Research shows that learning efficiency increases by building on prior knowledge and using multiple assessment tools. Powerful learning environments start with authentic problems and build knowledge through cooperative learning. Informal assessments integrated with assessments of prior knowledge identify further educational approaches. (SK)