Understanding the factors that encourage young people to become active agents in their own learning is critical. Positive psychology is one lens that can be used to investigate the factors that facilitate a student's sense of agency and active school engagement. In the second edition of this groundbreaking handbook, the editors draw together the…

Defines the concept of the learning contract, describes its purposes, and offers a rationale for its use. Typical components and how they might be negotiated are discussed as well as contract implementation and some advantages and cautions to be considered when using this approach. A checklist and 12 references are included. (MBR)

Describes and interprets what 65 elementary and secondary classroom teachers revealed about the techniques and importance of generating student interest in content areas. Finds that generating interest was considered a major aspect of teaching, and the most successful technique was "hands on" activities, including doing, planning, and…

Explores the development of a literature-based writing unit with computers for at-risk students through the creation of a Literacy Club. Suggests that current technology can provide the incentive required before at-risk students become willing participants in literary experiences. Literary Clubs can provide a rich context for learning to write…

A program of intervention called therapeutic tutoring to help underachievers is described. Intervention centers around students' loci of control, through a process of identifying areas in which students feel empowered and relating academic experiences to these areas. Academic exercises based on Monopoly, cricket, rugby, soap operas, field hockey,…

Presents essential principles to consider when designing free-form remedial/tutorial program courseware for second language learning. They include: (1) adaptability, in terms of instruction requirements and user population needs; (2) user-friendliness, to reduce machine-induced fears; (3) sophistication in error analysis; and (4) flexibility, to…

When they write on topics with personal meaning and read one another's papers to see whether they are communicating, even hard-to-teach students recognize the power of language and their ability to use it. An 11-item reference list is provided. (Author/DCS)

The goal of this book is to increase the usefulness and relevance of research to educational practice, particularly in the area of improving student learning. It proposes and describes an experiment: the establishment of a Strategic Education Research Program (SERP). The SERP plan calls for a large-scale and sharply defined program of research,…

To create a supportive environment for the slow and reluctant learner teachers must solicit student responses, provide proximity, positively reinforce answers, provide time to respond, and give corrective feedback. This document describes inservice training designed to help teachers improve their ability to maintain a supportive learning…

Advice on making continuing education (CE) responsive to the practice needs of professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and public health is provided in 16 chapters. Attention is directed to: establishing realistic goals, tailoring programs to specific needs, recruiting subject matter experts, evaluating programs and…