A unit on adult learning with an exercise based on the theories of Malcolm Knowles and Allen Tough is described. After students in the class see that they actually planned and directed much of their significant adult learning, they are eager to join in the process of modifying course objectives. (MLW)

Documents a seven-year-old child's early activities as a writer from the perspective of (1) intentionality, (2) conditions and production, (3) learning strategies, (4) composing patterns in other semiotic activities, (5) availability, and (6) literacy community, and attempts to analyze those activities through narrative, explication and argument.…

Proposes an alternate approach to language learning for the American classroom based on notions of learner independence and community involvement. This method, in-situ exploration, utilizes native-speaking mentors and a five-step "Learning Cycle." (Author/SED)

Empirical and theoretical evidence is presented to support the conclusion that improvement of learning ability is an important and viable educational goal. The improvement of learning ability necessitates development not only of specific learning skills, but also an executive control mechanism that automatically accesses and combines learning…

Points out that in order for parents to support new educational approaches in teaching reading and writing, they must understand these methods. Describes successful ways to inform and involve parents in their children's literacy learning. (EL)

Rather than emphasize specific facts, teaching science should help develop the whole person. Children learn science best when they are able to choose what they want to know. Suggestions for "living science" rather than parroting facts are offered. (DF)

Describes comprehensive "Program for More Effective Teaching" based on research into teacher behaviors conducive to learning. Emphasis is placed on assessing levels of difficulty, monitoring student progress, adjusting strategies, and practical application of learning principles. (TE)

This document, written in French introduces a group of Swiss researchers (Groupe des Chercheurs Romands) that has been examining music for beginning students. The specific focus of this study was the concept of creativity in music. The researchers are striving to alter the general perception of creativity as an inborn talent with no relationship…

The focus is on the metacognitive awareness of ten high-achieving high school pupils from Denmark and England and their cognitive learning process. Un-structured interviews in smaller groups investigates how they say they learn a mathematical concept that is new to them. I develop the "CULTIS model for analysis" (Consciousness,…

This book presents one method for identifying mind-sets, learning styles, and motivation patterns, and using the patterns in planning instruction and other helping processes, with the objective of helping people find and use their strengths to ameliorate weaknesses. The approach presented is based on Carl Jung's ideas about psychological types, as…

This paper is the work of an international student studying within the School of Art Education at the University of New South Wales, Sydney (Australia), who has undertaken doctoral research on the teaching and learning experiences of international Asian graphic design students within the setting of an overseas university. It identifies the nature…

For supporting the teaching activities on linear system theory, a World Wide Web-based laboratory is being developed. It integrates both simulation and implementation aspects in the same framework. Modules covering the main topics of the linear system analysis are developed using a colloquial language approach in order to attract and retain the…

Action learning is receiving increasing attention from human resource development (HRD) practitioners and the HRD management literature. Action learning has been characterized as follows: (1) working in small groups to take action on meaningful problems while seeking to learn from having taken the specified action lies at the foundation of action…

This paper describes the possible effects of feedback on learning (associations) using a connectionist tool, the delta rule. Feedback in instruction can be described in terms of the interaction of stimulus inputs and response outputs, an associationist perspective. Here the delta rule is applied to each instance that an input and an output likely…

The failure of the "open classroom" concept of the 1960's has not diminished the need for researchers to continue to look at learning and teaching to better understand how educational spaces can be improved for everyone that uses them. This document summarizes presentations made at the 1997 American Institute of Architects (AIA)…