Does the use of rewards to motivate children to learn or to follow classroom rules run counter to fostering a true desire for mastery? This column, which consists of two separate articles, provides the opposing opinions of the authors regarding the appropriateness of giving rewards in an early childhood classroom. In "Using Rewards in the Early…

Disheartened by working at Children's Hospital and Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, UCLA-trained Hunter became a school psychologist to concentrate on prevention, rather than remediation. Ultimately, she became a consultant aiming to move teaching from a craft to a profession based on research translated into artistic practice. (MLH)

It is argued that computer assisted instruction might be an answer to the scheduling problems resulting from the implementation of mastery learning programs in the public schools. The mastery learning model proposed by Carroll and the transformation of this model into a working model by Bloom are described. The difficulty of implementing mastery…

The article presents a five-step model for implementing a consulting teacher model and effective interventions for mildly handicapped students in regular education settings. Interventions include principles of effective teaching, mastery learning, peer and cross-age tutoring, cooperative learning groups, and instruction in metacognitive learning…

This paper reviews the research bases for components of the resource/consulting teacher (R/CT) model, including use of curriculum based assessment, direct and data-based instruction, criterion-referenced mastery learning, stages of learning development, applied behavior analysis, and school consultation. (Author/DB)

Discusses changes in teaching English since the Dartmouth Conference. Discusses issues in education in the mid-l960s; the second international conference at York University in England; the third international conference at Sydney, Australia; and the l984 international seminar at East Lansing, Michigan. (EL)

Outcome-based educational philosophical principles and program characteristics are described, with a focus on changes in the management of time, students, instructional resources, and testing required of both teachers and administrators by such programs. Outcome-based approaches require an instructional management system that is assessment-driven…

Two approaches to measurement for instructional decision making (specific subskill mastery measurement and general outcome measurement) are described and illustrated with case studies. The paper concludes that measuring general outcome indicators can bridge traditional and contemporary assessment paradigms to form an innovative approach to…

Effective curriculum is based on a mastery learning model. According to Carroll's mastery learning model, learning rate is partially a function of student "perseverance" or time on task, which is in turn determined by a learner's entering repertoire and the quality of instruction. Although the mastery-learning model looks simple, its execution is…

While no one method can possibly solve all the problems in an educational system, the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) addresses many. The PSI method is a self-paced, mastery learning approach based on reinforcement and personal attention. It is typified by five characteristics that help to meet or minimize the adverse aspects of…

Discusses alterable elements of classroom organization, traditional approaches to instructional improvement, and "component building," an alternative approach to education. The component-building approach involves an extensive program of field experimental research on classroom practices that are or could become components of complete…

A review of research and proposed models on classroom processes allows identification of four key characteristics of effective classrooms in elementary and secondary education. The four characteristics encompass (1) teacher attention to student characteristics, including prior learning and learning styles; (2) congruence among the course goals,…

The effect of the Mississippi Performance-Based Accreditation Model on operations in a local school district is examined. Specifically, this report describes the Tupelo, Mississippi school district's experience in producing improved pupil learning. The Mississippi accreditation paradigm is prescriptive. It is an evaluation driven system capable of…

Most constructive critics of education agree that today's students are better than any in United States history. Yet problems like competency shortages and outmoded curricula remain. When schools were basically "socializers" (1885-1957), praise outstripped criticism--until 1957's Sputnik. In response, Congress initiated the National Aeronautics…

American schools might improve their performance by emulating certain successful businesses that, while distinctly American, have much in common with Japanese corporations. William Ouchi attributes Japanese business success to worker involvement; the typical Japanese corporation, he asserts, unifies its employees around a corporate philosophy…