Over the past decade postsecondary education has been moving increasingly from the classroom to online. During the fall 2010 term 31 percent of U.S. college students took at least one online course. The primary reasons for the growth of e-learning in the nation's colleges and universities include the desire of those institutions to generate…

Review of problem-based learning (PBL) finds that innovation is comprised of four elements: an ill-structured problem, substantive content, student apprenticeship, and self-directed learning. Research evidence suggests that PBL is better than traditional instruction on long-term information retention, conceptual understanding, and self-directed…

The article reviews research on the effects of the three components of instructional time--allocated time, used time, and engaged time. Evidence that use of time is a powerful variable in student learning is applied to the instruction of hearing impaired students. (Author/DB)

The article maintains that a reductionist fallacy in the four major models (medical, psychological, behavioral, and cognitive strategy) underlying services to learning disabled students explains the efficacy problems that have long plagued the field. (Author/DB)

This article examines the conflict between literature-based or whole-language approaches to reading/literacy instruction and the direct instruction approach, as used with students having or at risk for learning disabilities. It concludes that each approach is often depicted in an idealized fashion but that, in practice, the approaches overlap and…

The review describes the advance organizer technique and reviews the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of advance organizers with both normal students and students classified as handicapped. Examples of advance organizers include the expository advance organizer, the comparative advance organizer, the graphic advance organizer, and…

Critical review of the literature on problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education focuses on: (1) the credibility of claims (both empirical and theoretical) about the ties between PBL and educational outcomes and (2) the magnitude of the effects. Concludes there is no convincing evidence that PBL improves knowledge base and clinical…

Principles of using Cued Speech with deaf children are discussed. Review of the literature suggests that Cued Speech has been unjustly criticized. Cued speech should be seen not as a method of communication, but rather as an intervention tool with application for both aural-oral and Total Communication programs. (Author/DB)

The article reviews theoretical and research bases for the design and effects of the adaptive instructional approach for students with special needs in the regular classroom. Research indicates that the program can be implemented in a variety of school settings when supported by systematic staff development and organizational support. (Author/DB)

This article describes cooperative-learning models, discusses adaptation of cooperative learning for gifted students, and outlines an appropriate curriculum for gifted students. The paper concludes that activities that allow gifted students to share knowledge and improve interaction skills are appropriate for heterogeneous groups, whereas…

Recent research on effective classroom management practices is summarized. Effective practices include organizing classroom space, establishing rules, developing classroom procedures, maintaining the learning environment (e.g., matching instruction to individual needs and monitoring pupil performance), and assessing the effectiveness of management…

This article examines the relevance of whole-language instruction with deaf children and concludes that, although this approach has many values, deaf children often need a more direct approach to acquire English literacy. Educators of the deaf are urged to be wary of adopting general education methods without careful evaluation with deaf students.…

Review of claims for the effectiveness of the gentle teaching philosophy with people having severe problem behaviors and mental retardation finds that the methods were unsuccessful with seven of nine individuals. Although more research is needed, the review suggests that gentle teaching cannot be considered an ethically defensible treatment…

This paper reviews the literature on mastery learning theory and reports its successful application since 1987 with mainstreamed special education students at one elementary school in Missouri. The methodology, originally developed by Benjamin Bloom, involves formative evaluation after initial instruction followed by either corrective activities…

The monograph summarizes characteristics of effective instruction of mildly handicapped and non-handicapped students by focusing on two literature areas: Instructional Psychology and Models of School Learning. The review on instructional psychology covers the following areas: definitions of instruction, principles of learning, models of the…