The past thirty years have shown a rise in models of language acquisition in which the state of the learner is characterized as a probability distribution over a set of non-stochastic grammars. In recent years, increasingly powerful models have been constructed as earlier models have failed to generalize well to increasingly complex and realistic…

This paper studies the process of learning to write from an insider perspective, by adopting the framework of implicit theories of learning. We interviewed 160 children attending kindergarten or primary education in public schools in Argentina (20 children from each of the eight grades from kindergarten to seventh grade). Main questions explored…

Around 1960, there were quite radical changes in emphasis in many countries in school chemistry education, with subsequent changes in many university courses. Considerable research was undertaken to explore the learning problems students were reporting and the common thread underlying became apparent: it related to the way humans process new…

In order to fully appreciate the nature of children's learning difficulties, it is necessary to analyze the qualitative differences in their intellectual functioning, i.e., their modes and styles of sensing, responding, organizing, and interpreting. (EH)

Paper presented at the Gesellschaft fur Angewandte Linguistik Conference in November 1969 in Stuttgart, West Germany. (RS)

Outlines the interview-about-instances method for investigating student understanding of concepts and to give some indication of the rationale behind the method. Provides specific examples of the type of information that can be obtained and lists the advantages and limitations of the approach. (GS)

Through the years, many researchers have advanced theories of problem solving. Probably the best definition of problem solving to apply to adult learning programs is Wallas' (1926) four-stage theory. The stages are (1) a preparation, (2) an incubation period, (3) a moment of illumination, and (4) final application or verification of the solution.…

Results suggest that adults may not be able to discover-invent-produce the learning that is necessary to behave more effectively; that they may be unaware of this possibility; and that if they try to get help from well intentioned others, it will tend to make things worse. (Author/AM)

Analyzes the literature pertaining to the adult's need to learn how to learn and this concept's relevance for successful adult learning in three modes (learning on one's own, collaborative learning, and institutional learning). Also, discusses training (which helps adults acquire learning skills) and suggests some researchable questions. (EM)

The readings compiled for this collection require that the reader have an acquaintance with the basic ideas in the field of educational psychology and a desire to read further and make direct contact with some original sources. The main selection criterion of the papers that are included was their coverage of classroom learning with particular…

This paper proposes a broader and more rigorous approach to the analysis of errors produced by second language learners. As a supplement to longitudinal studies, a procedure called "lateralisation" is advocated as a way of providing the researcher with more data than is normally available through examination of learner text alone. In…

The author objects to criticism of current programed language instruction (PLI) materials. In a "conventional FL (foreign language) class" of 120 class hours a year, the amount of time spent in active, immediately reinforced responding by any individual student would be less than 100 minutes. This is in contrast to the shortest PLI program (53…