This article reviews the history of self-directed learning for the gifted and describes the Autonomous Learner Model (Betts, 1985) which includes a strong affective component, career development, and guidelines for a process-based scope and sequence. Guidelines are provided for developing independent study programs for gifted learners. (Author/CB)

The author provides a personal account of the actions taken by several teachers at Naperville High School to individualize a traditional Freshman English course through learning modules and a credit/no credit grading system. (Editor/SJL)

This article considers ways to keep a gifted student interested while teaching basic skills to others in an inclusive classroom setting. The challenges that an inclusive environment presents to the teacher are described. Strategies recommended to provide gifted students with a differentiated curriculum include curriculum compacting, independent…

A teacher describes implementation of curriculum compacting with a cluster of gifted children in her regular fourth grade classroom. Children who demonstrate that they have mastered a specific content area work together on independent work in that area and present reports to the class. (DB)

The Advanced Physics Project for Independent Learning (Appil) consists of 10 units based on three themes, namely, materials, forces and fields, and waves. Discusses the content and aims of the project, its emphasis on student-centered learning, managerial advantages, characteristics of the teacher's role, resource implications, and other topics.…

A study of the processes of curriculum and instructional development in the first-year public administration program at Melchester Polytechnic (England) drew on interviews with faculty. It is concluded that curricular and instructional change is intensely political and dependent on the organizational climate for change. (Author/MSE)

This case study presents information on the actual cost of teachers' producing their own learning and instructional materials. The figures reflect the various elements that go into materials development and would need to be considered for similar undertakings. Descriptions of and average costs are given for 10 material development activities: (1)…

Discusses various aspects of in-service training and the design of self-instruction material. Special reference is given to materials for application in various places but developed at a central location. Results are given of the use of experimental materials in medical laboratories in The Gambia. (Author/SA)

Describes an authoring language created specifically for composing computer-assisted language drills. Students can receive written or visual cues, edit their answers, and summon additional information using the Macintosh microcomputer's pull-down menus and multiple windows. (Author/SED)

This publication offers teachers and principals a program for customizing schooling to individual students' learning needs and motivating them to take increased responsibility for deciding what and how to learn. It presents a comprehensive framework for introducing self-directed learning (SDL) approaches in the classroom. Nine chapters include:…

This book suggests strategies for creating meaningful project and work-based learning experiences that were developed by teams of vocational and academic teachers and addresses the support issues necessary to sustain successful efforts. It begins with a description of the design team model and activities of the Vocational Integration with…

This booklet outlines specific strategies to help teachers prepare an effective self-study course for students enrolled in nontraditional study. The guide is organized in four chapters that cover the following topics: (1) consideration of students and their motivation; (2) preparation of an effective course (conceptualization--goals, expectations,…

Open learning is an integrated and systematic set of teaching, learning, and assessment procedures openly accessible to those willing and able to benefit from such a study; it involves elements of distance and independent study. How to design such a course is discussed. (RM)

In an effort to link information literacy and resource-based learning to cultural pluralism, faculty and librarians at Seattle Central Community College (Washington) revised an English composition course and a library skills course, linking their content of documented writing and literary research methods. Students must enroll in both courses.…

The challenge of bringing information literacy to university students is greater than at small colleges. A survey of librarians at large universities revealed unique problems and instructional solutions. The Brigham Young University (Utah) program, in which information literacy is integrated into every academic division, offers one example. (MSE)