Classroom observation and interviews in 55 schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students indicated that more time on instruction, greater correspondence between tests and curriculum material covered in class, and increased on-task behavior (activities related to acquisition of subject matter information) raised student…

Two experiments are reported concerning the effects of the differential use of verbal approval by problematic adolescents serving as tutors in a remedial reading program for an inner-city school. Data are discussed as evidence that tutors had acquired the ability to recruit reinforcement from the classroom for appropriate behavior. (Author)

Time spent on homework was found to be important in determining student grades. Further, it was suggested that increased homework demands and more stringent grading standards might increase both student achievement and confidence in schools. (Author/AL)

Much effort has been invested in time-on-task research. Time-on-task is described as a proxy term for the notion of "attention," and the findings of time-on-task research are described as less relevant to the classroom teacher than information contained in methods texts. (JN)

Research on teaching has begun to yield important distinctions between the teaching performances of more effective and less effective teachers. More effective teachers are shown to use a wide variety of teaching behaviors at appropriate times. Teaching behaviors comprising Direct Instruction are most effective for keeping students on task. (JN)

A model is used to show that teaching behaviors which influence student learning have five interrelated functions: diagnosis, prescription, presentation, monitoring, and feedback. Fourteen major findings from field research report relationships between academic learning time and student achievement, and a relationship is shown between teaching…

A panel of researchers examined why individualized instruction is successful in industrial, military, and medical training but less so in elementary and secondary schools. The reasons revolve around the rewards students receive, student maturity and motivation, and the amount of time spent on task. (Author/JM)

This study evaluated a treatment package to improve on-task academic skills by three children with autism. Program components included delayed reinforcement for on-task and on-schedule responding, fading of instructional prompts and instructor's presence, unpredictable supervision, and response cost for off-task responding. On-task and on-schedule…

This case study of inactive, or invisible, students enrolled in an online graduate course identifies how much time is spent in course-related activity, what the reasons are for students' invisibility, and if their preferred learning styles influence online behavior. Preliminary analysis of grades indicate that grades are better for high-visibility…

Investigates the relationship between total scores on the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and the time taken to complete it. Finds that slower test takers obtained significantly higher scores. Discusses implications of these findings for college instruction. (SG)

Study evaluated effects of traditional recess on subsequent classroom behavior of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Results showed that levels of inappropriate behavior were consistently higher on days when participants did not have recess. Optimal recess period(s) may potentially promote academic achievement by…

Researches the efficacy of reality therapy and solution- focused brief counseling with elementary school students engaging in off-task behavior and demonstrates the utility of a single- participant design in conducting counseling research. Significant positive changes in the on-task behaviors of the students resulted from both approaches.…

An alternating treatments design was used to evaluate the effects of the interspersal procedure on an elementary student who was referred to a school psychologist for high rates of off-task behavior during independent seatwork. Results showed that the procedure increased the student's on-task levels during classroom mathematics assignments.…

This exploratory study investigated the influence of two recreational computer games on children's subsequent performance on computer-based instructional tasks. Examined speed, correct solutions, and cognitive processes; and suggests that the extent of recreational game influence depends on how closely the game type matches the design of the tasks…

Comparison of effects of two roles (peer monitor or point earner) during an independent mathematics seat work peer intervention on the behavior of three low achieving fifth graders found students demonstrated comparable improvements in appropriate task behavior during both roles with no clear improvements in assignment completion or accuracy rate.…