A series of studies conducted to examine deficits in reading comprehension skills of low ability, young adult readers and to evaluate computer-based systems that have been designed to improve skills deficiencies in comprehension are described in this report. The studies described in the first section of the report: (1) examined readers' use of…

Designed to serve as a resource for educational planners, administrators, and concerned individuals, this report reviews elements of Korea's long-term educational development plan. An introductory section presents basic positions about major educational issues that are related to planning for a long-term educational development. Part one traces…

One of three related documents exploring the problems inherent to current high school forensic coaching, this paper explores the ethics of "overcoaching" debaters to the detriment of their critical thinking skills. The paper first discusses the harm that over-controlling students can cause, noting that when coaches develop arguments and…

General theory of transfer of knowledge and skill in learning second languages and ways in which language awareness may contribute to second language learning are examined. It is concluded that while recent second language acquisition research work and theories do not support or refute transfer of general language principles to the learning of…

Before computers will be able to fulfill their potential in education, two major challenges must be overcome--the lack of well-trained teachers and a lack of general knowledge about software and its capabilities. Teachers must acquire some computer literacy skills, including programming, word processing, materials generation and record keeping. In…

This descriptive and evaluative report focuses on the work of Reading Area Community College's (RACC's) Basic Skills Articulation Team in developing a Basic Skills Integration Plan (BSIP) for the systematic integration of basic skills instruction into the college curriculum. Section A provides an introduction to the creation and activities of the…

The middle school grades are a period of transition: a time in the formal educational process when immature children develop into young adolescents who are better prepared for the rigors of higher education and life itself. In order to help children master the sophisticated social studies concepts and skills necessary for higher secondary…

Following some years of eclipse by the basics, imparting thinking ability to students is once again emerging as the primary goal of public education. How to teach thinking skills, is, however, subject to question. For example, not only is the domain of the higher order skills broad and imprecisely specified, there is also considerable naivete in…

A study examined whether student performance in some of the basic skills of editorial design would improve with practice. Subjects, 67 college juniors enrolled in an introductory course in graphic communication, were divided into four groups: male, female, students with ACT scores in mathematics of 14 or below, and students with ACT scores in…

Intervention to enhance Interpersonal Cognitive Problem Solving (ICPS) skills has been shown to significantly reduce observable negative, impulsive and inhibited behaviors and increase positive qualities in young, low socioeconomic status (SES) children. An ICPS model for older children was implemented with 202 low SES fifth graders to test…

The document contains 20 ecological inventories (developed at the University of Minnesota and the University of Alberta) to help severely disabled students learn functional living skills. The ecological approach is designed to uncover the functions critical for success in specific environments which the student frequently encounters. Matching the…

The developmental college student, distinguished by lower than average academic scores, may also experience the inhibiting fear of communication, speech anxiety. Students who are both developmental and communication apprehensive lack confidence in their personal academic abilities, and thus develop poor attitudes toward learning and low academic…

State legislatures and others are recommending and, in some cases, mandating reforms in education including evaluating students' ability to meet stated objectives. This "ideal" situation poses a major problem concerning instruments needed to assess process skills. In the real world, educators do not yet have nationally recognized, valid,…

A controlled study investigated the impact of systematic praise techniques on 145 sixth-grade students' self-esteem. Eighty-five students comprised the experimental group, and 60 students made up the control group. The study was initiated in order to explore the link between self-esteem and academic achievement. The attempt to increase student…

This monograph contains reports of research conducted under the Higher Order Thinking Program of Research at the Minnesota Research and Development Center. A report entitled "Studying Expertise in Specific Knowledge Domains" (Ruth G. Thomas) briefly reviews previous findings regarding the general nature of expertise and discusses the…