The Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--was designed to examine problems and difficulties in primary science and to explore ways of overcoming these problems. Early research led to a proposal that children's questions and explanations could form the basis of an alternative teaching approach. However, several issues were raised which…

This paper contends that efforts at educational reform must focus, above all, on the instructional encounter between teachers and students. The argument is presented in triadic sequence: three basic assumptions about learning, three interrelated models of the instructional process, and three practical approaches to promoting cognitive achievement.…

Teaching skills can be acquired or modified through various processes, including observation, concept acquisition, practice, and feedback. However, evidence does not indicate that combining these processes into a single training methodology provides any advantage for teacher trainees. Teaching also may be influenced by providing information about…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO INVESTIGATE SPECIFIC METHODS OF DEVELOPING THE INQUIRY SKILLS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. ACTIVITIES INVOLVED SELECTING SPECIFIC METHODS, GATHERING MATERIALS, AND TRAINING QUALIFIED TEACHERS. A 24-WEEK, INQUIRY TRAINING PROGRAM WAS GIVEN TO FIFTH- AND SIXTH-GRADE CHILDREN WHICH INCORPORATED--(1) ANALYSIS, (2)…

True learning requires that students "make meaning" for themselves, but the patterns of verbal behavior that prevail in secondary classrooms tend to stifle rather than facilitate this process. Excerpts from tape recordings of lessons in three secondary classrooms show that, whereas the teachers display great autonomy and control over what they…

The occurrence of the two allomorphs of the indefinite article in standard English ("a" before nouns or noun clauses beginning with consonant sounds and "an" before those beginning with vowel sounds) is a concept similar to those studied in the general concept formation paradigm. The acquisition of this grammatical concept was examined using 80…

Third grade pupils from a suburban school district were subjects of a study which examined the effects of two social studies teaching strategies, demonstration deductive and directed discovery inductive, and two intelligence levels as they affected mastery, immediate retention, immediate transfer, delayed retention, and delayed transfer. Three…

Lawrence University in Wisconsin has developed a means whereby time-shared terminals may be effectively used in a small college. The manner in which the terminals are employed in an introductory psychology course is indicative of their general usefulness. The time-sharing system consists of a PDP-11/20 computer (RSTS system) with 8K of core…

Three papers prepared for the Greyston Conference held at Columbia University October 18-20, 1964 and one paper resulting from conference discussions and inquiries by geographer-participants focus upon current research needs and opportunities for improvement in geographic education for elementary grades (ages 6-12). The four titles under which…

The 1972-73 annotated bibliography of the Wisconsin Research and Development Center for Cognitive Learning is arranged by revised program components and completed projects in numerical order. Entries deal with learning strategies, child development, elementary math and science, reading skills, computer applications, individualized systems, and…

Learning behavior of young children of contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds is examined in this study, which poses the question: what are the necessary or sufficient environmental conditions for the establishment of identifiable patterns of behavior? Socioeconomic level (SEL), the principal independent variable, was defined in terms of parental…

The handbook, capsulizing much of the growing body of research and writing on conceptual approaches, is designed to provide assistance to elementary teachers in giving students a conceptual perspective for dealing with social studies content. The handbook is arranged in seven sections. After a brief discussion of the rationale for teaching…

Reports on a study to determine the effects of the presentation of questions inserted into texts for students in introductory biology. Results indicated that students reading the text with questions at the beginning of the paragraph scored significantly higher on achievement tests than the students reading without questions. (TW)

Examines childrens' conceptual frameworks and, recognizing that they may be inaccurate, proposes such teaching strategies to aid students in modifying inadequate frameworks as: asking for ideas, listening respectfully, providing guided experiences, and encouraging discussion in non-threatening settings. Stresses learning as an active, thinking,…

Discusses psychological applications for science curriculum and instruction, addressing difficulty in learning science (Piagetian theory); meaningful learning (reformulation, application, making use of prior knowledge, learner involvement); value of practical work (acquisition of skills, enhancing learning, motivation); and affective aspects…