Results of a microlevel study of the problems associated with student evaluation of teacher lecture performance indicated that student ratings of lectures are valuable feedback regarding teacher presentation but should be interpreted with caution as a measure of teaching effect on student learning. (SB)

Proactive interference (PI) build-up and release from PI were used to study automatic conceptual encoding of superordinate and subordinate category lists in low-socioeconomic status (SES) Black children and middle-SES White children (grades 2 and 4). (Results for each population on the three category lists are described). (GDC)

The author defends the progressive teaching methods of the British Primary school against recent calls for "literacy" and "evaluation." He asserts that language and writing develop best from personal exploration and student-teacher trust, not from rote learning and surveillance. (SJL)

Three variables: subject area, day of the week, and academic activity, were examined to determine whether pupil involvement in academic learning activities is an indicator of pupil learning. Differences were found in each variable, implying that more effective use of allocated instruction time will increase academic achievement. (JD)

Research on levels of questioning and their effects on learning is reviewed. It is shown that higher level questions facilitate reproductive and productive knowledge, but the reasons why are not clearly understood. An information processing model which accounts for question level effects is discussed. (MH)

Ratcliff's theory of memory retrieval which posits parallel processing and Sternberg's serial processing explanation of memory scanning are reviewed and contrasted. Discrepancy between the two theories may arise because they focus on different aspects of the data. If scanning without comparisons takes place, the two views may be reconciled.…

The material presented in this article is intended to help students learn how to learn. The seven key concepts of David Ausubel's assimilation theory for cognitive learning are discussed with reference to the classroom. Concept mapping is suggested as a tool for demonstrating how the seven key concepts function. (SA)

The effects of three types of advance organizer lessons (containing high-order social studies concepts, high-order rules for hierarchical classification, or both) on learning social studies concepts and hierarchical classification, as defined by Piaget, were evaluated for 237 rural children in kindergarten, third, and fifth grades. (Author/MH)

Discusses how laboratory activities can match science teaching goals. Analysis of two commonly used laboratory investigations in high school physics and biology are presented using a list of 24 skills and behaviors which are related to the processes of scientific inquiry and problem solving. (HM)

Describes how the authors gradually changed their methods of teaching chemistry to mixed-ability groups. (Editor/RK)

Provides suggestions for developing effective communication between students and their teachers. 350 elementary students responded on how well they thought their teachers listened to their story-telling. (RK)

Describes the learning processes experienced by six language teachers within the context of a three-year research project in which they worked and in the context of doing their Ph.D.s as research assistants. These processes involved learning specific research skills, understanding teaching practices, development of theory and concepts, links with…

Discusses use of two central forms of argument, analogy and inference to the best explanation, in teaching college science. It is argued that science makes sense if the underlying reasoning makes sense, and this must be explicitly addressed in instruction. Therefore, forms of argument that link evidence to hypotheses or theories, and criteria for…

Examines to what extent constructivist theory explains interactions that occurred during group work on a teacher education project in foreign languages. Content analysis was used to examine dialog journals and self-reports on the group process and on each student's role in the group. Findings address division of labor, role taking, desire for…