The objective of this article was to determine whether the "Personalized System of Instruction" would improve student performance in and satisfaction with an introductory political science course. The author concludes that "PSI" is appropriate for political science courses in which mastery of subject matter or skills is the…

Reports that both "good" and "poor" students benefited from the "Personalized System of Instruction" in a news writing course. (RL)

Based on the idea that a wide range of individualization in the classroom is necessary to both stimulate the students and to meet their needs, this paper presents a complete course in English Literature based on the learning contract system. Included in the paper are a course outline with the objectives and the rules for the class; a title page…

An individualized instructional development training program was developed that allows teachers to enter at several points and move through the instruction in a way that suits their own particular needs and challenges. The program was designed for implementation on the TICCIT computer controlled television system, although it could be adapted to…

To determine the correlation between unit test performance and retention on final examinations, scores of 68 secondary level teaching candidates enrolled in a general methods course were studied. Unit tests were administered frequently to determine student achievement of the 38 course objectives. Two retests per student were allowed, with…

In the personalized system of instruction (PSI) used in beginning communication courses at George Mason University (Virginia), the students do more than read text materials and master cognitive course objectives. They are encouraged to have experiences that reinforce what they read and to consider how these experiences relate to everyday life. The…

Personalized systems of instruction (PSI), also called individualized instruction or contingency-managed instruction, were developed in the mid-1960s at the college level by Fred Keller, a reinforcement learning theorist. The Keller plan consists of five features: self-pacing, unit mastery, student tutors, optional motivational lectures, and…

This paper reviews some of the basic issues and concerns which are reflected in the literature and which either directly or indirectly influenced the development of a syllabus for a mathematics methods course for preservice elementary teachers. These issues include: (1) What should be the content in mathematics for elementary school children? (2)…

The Open University of Great Britain is an open-enrollment, home-based institution in which the majority of the instruction is conducted via broadcasts and correspondence. The student is required to interact with printed materials, broadcasts, tutors, counselors, assignments, cassette recordings, experiment kits, etc. The choice of media is…

A course in pharmacy administration principles at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy taught by Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) was found to produce generally favorable student evaluation of course and instructor. Examples of instructional unit objectives are provided. (Author/MLW)

This paper discusses the use of guided design with white student nurses at the Medical College of Virginia Nursing School to help them develop an awareness of and reduce stereotypic responses when they are providing nursing care to black patients. The need for this type of training for both faculty and students is discussed, a series of seminars…

Home Economics 134 was designed to teach the construction and design of clothing on a basic level for students interested in home economics teaching, professional clothes designing, or just self-enrichment. Budget restrictions over a three year period necessitated the reduction of faculty members available to teach the course from three…

Research indicates that four criteria should be considered in developing methods for teaching learning strategies to foreign language students: explicitness of purpose; content; evaluation; and integration of learner training with language training. Five English as a second language settings using learner training activities are described. (CB)

Describes an undergraduate course at the Polytechnic of Wales called Information Systems for Management that was designed to give students responsibility for setting objectives, working at their own pace, and making self-assessments. Highlights include course objectives, course content, learning methods used, students' reactions, results obtained,…