Seven dimensions for characterizing a curriculum in higher education are suggested. They include: prior knowledge; institutional response to prior knowledge; primary teaching mode; rates of learning; styles of learning; content openness; and assessment. This characterization is applied specifically to chemistry departments. (LBH)

Compared Introductory Physical Science (IPS) and Modified approaches to teaching physics concepts. Found that students' preinstruction ideas of matter and density were organized in commonsense theories that constrained understanding of density. Both curricula promoted quantitative understanding of mass, volume, and density, but the Modified…

Children who come to school without numerical game-playing experience have trouble with math relationships in direct-instruction situations. This article explores the varied roles of active thinking, social interaction, previous knowledge, and child-initiated choice in children's development of math concepts. Self-esteem cannot be built by doing…

The purpose of this study was to determine if factors to predict success in college biology (i.e., prior knowledge of biology or reasoning ability) depend on the instructional method employed (i.e., expository or inquiry). Reasoning ability was found to account for a significant amount of variance in final examination scores, regardless of…

University students (n=15) were asked how a hypermedia program's features reflected 4 theoretical constructs, 2 linear models (semantic networks, frames/scripts), and 2 nonlinear models (concept maps and schemata). Regardless of hypermedia experience, students cited more linear than nonlinear models, suggesting that more experience in programming,…

Draws on findings from three early literacy research projects conducted in Australia between 1998 and 2001 to identify guiding principles to assist early childhood educators in reflecting upon their early literacy practices and in constructing more inclusive literacy narratives for children prior to school entry. Emphasizes the importance of…

Argues that inventions are of the utmost importance in knowledge development, and that conventions play an important role in inventions by providing support for their development. This position borrows from Piaget's perspective regarding figurative and operative aspects of thought. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Investigates the strategic literacy knowledge, abilities, and potential of five Latino/a subjects (three were bilingual). Employs qualitative research methods and cognitive strategy lessons. Finds that students, with instructional support, implemented the focal strategies emphasized during the experiment and engaged in extended discourse which…

Describes study that was conducted at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to examine variables that determine which undergraduates use microcomputers and how often they use them. Computer access, expected future computer use, and prior computer experience are discussed, and the influences of gender and class rank are examined. (17…

Discussion of prior experiential learning of older students who are applying for higher education courses focuses on assessment techniques developed in the United Kingdom that use simulation and gaming activities. Issues associated with establishing assessment criteria are discussed, and implications for educational staff and students are…

Describes how narrative texts can be represented as networks of causally related statements or events and presents empirical evidence that the networks predict performance on reading comprehension. Compares network theory to other theories of discourse comprehension. Suggests implications of causal representations for reading and composition…

The effects of cooperative learning strategy manipulations on the enactment and recall of a medical procedure were examined, using 98 undergraduates. Results shed light on prevalent theories of skill acquisition. Written recall of the procedure was enhanced by prior performance, and performance was enhanced by prior recall. (TJH)

Describes study that was conducted at Bar-Ilan University (Israel) to examine the influence of previous experience on the computer activity of first-year university students. The average computer activity for high-experience and low-experience groups is analyzed, and implications for beginning computer courses are discussed. (10 references) (LRW)

Describes a study examining the usefulness of both comprehensive assessment models (utilizing computerized placement tests, high school grade point averages [GPAs] and rank, and student characteristics) and reduced models for predicting community college GPA. Suggests that comprehensive measures, including both academic and nonacademic variables,…

Studied effects of expert knowledge and metacognitive knowledge on strategy acquisition. Boys who were poor readers and baseball experts were trained in reading strategy using baseball or nonbaseball stories. Found that boys trained using baseball stories demonstrated greater strategy use; boys with higher metacognition demonstrated better…