Describes the exciting things that can happen when middle school students are allowed to chart the course their education will take. (SR)

Defines multimedia didactics and notes instructional aids they offer. Highlights include interactivity within learning programs; the visualization and presentation of learning contents; the effectiveness in information programs; and the challenge of multimedia didactics for research and teaching. (AEF)

Workshop Way is a classroom management system that keeps students of varying abilities busy, creating an ordered plan of work that helps students organize themselves and feel confident. Workshop Way fosters independent work by posting a series of headings across a bulletin board with specific, brief assignments under each heading. (SM)

This paper, based on video program conducted in English for Specific Purposes course for Thai government officers at University of Sydney, Australia, argues that video is still underutilized and can play more integral role in program development. Discusses systematic approach to using video to develop learner self-monitoring strategies and…

Discussion of learner control in instructional management describes six learner control methods: (1) content control; (2) sequence control; (3) pace control; (4) display or strategy control; (5) internal processing control; and (6) advisor strategies. Relevant literature, both theoretical and empirical, is reviewed, and learner control and…

This paper analyzes particular discourse markers (okay, oh, so, well, and now) to offer insights into how speech therapy lesson participants organized their interactions. Three regulatory role dimensions emerged, including information, evaluation, and control. It is concluded that comparisons and contrasts can be made between adult-controlled and…

A three-phase reading strategy for students with learning disabilities is presented, involving students ask questions about a story, discussing criteria for types of questions (fact, inference, opinion), and label the questions; the teacher models the role of discussion leader; and the leadership role is turned over to the students. (JDD)

An experienced high school teacher describes how exposure to John Dewey's educational philosophy and Foxfire teaching methods changed his attitudes and classroom techniques. Discusses the relationship between process and product in the Foxfire classroom and the relationships among teacher, student, and subject in a democratic learning environment.…

An experience with learner-centered instructional units in an otherwise traditional second year course in medical interviewing found that students (n=71) strongly supported the approach and that learner-centered experiences can be embedded in a teacher-directed curriculum and compete successfully with other, more directive, and, as perceived by…

A description of the development of a new surgery clerkship looks at institutional background (University of Kentucky College of Medicine) for the project, preliminary evaluation and planning efforts, formulation of an ideal for the clerkship, barriers to change, overcoming resistance to change, and comparisons with problem-based learning programs…

The effects of practice mode and learner control in computer-based instruction on the achievement and continuing motivation of 152 seventh graders were studied. The practical implications of the finding that recall practice produced higher overall achievement are discussed. (SLD)

Describes the ninth-grade curriculum of the Downingtown Educational Enrichment Program (DEEP) that includes student design and implementation of independent-study contracts. The program serves identified gifted students through a year-long scheduled elective course option that meets every other day and offers one-half credit. (CR)

Describes eight steps that help students develop the skill necessary for analyzing their work and articulating their progress and goals. Describes how "We Can Charts" help students assess their growth as readers, explain their growth in reading to parents, and develop new reading goals. Discusses the characteristics of active learners and…

The Equipped for the Future (EFF) project of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) helps adult learners (and their tutors) develop literacy skills with a focus on "real life" lessons. This paper discusses projects in California public libraries that use EFF. A sidebar describes LINCS (Literacy Information and Communication System)…

Describes how a new English teacher invited students to negotiate with him their course of study. Discusses setting the stage for negotiated learning, establishing ownership and building ensemble, clarifying expectations and rehearsing together, planning ahead and assessing the performance, helping students take on additional roles, and allowing…