This paper describes the personalized system of instruction (PSI), a teaching method based on a high student involvement in the learning process, immediate feedback, mastery learning, and careful planning and instructional design of the course content. With PSI, students proceed through the course at their own pace and are required to demonstrate…

Demonstrates that students who are taught physics concepts through active inquiry learn more readily than students taught the same concepts through vicarious inquiry method. Urges the active involvement of students in laboratory work. (LS)

Recommends using informal writing exercises to increase students' involvement in large survey history courses. Explains several activities in which undergraduates collect their thoughts on particular lecture topics. Also suggests that students keep journals to accompany reading assignments. Argues that journal writing enlivens the material and…

Attempts to distinguish between the lecture method and the constructivist approach, in general, and by citing classroom scenarios. The author cautions those whose writing seems to unintentionally endorse traditional lecture and drill and practice methods. (MKR)

Describes the development of a statistical experiment to assess and compare the effects of traditional lecture and laboratory technology methods of teaching introductory computer programming concepts. Discusses the use of performance measures including tests, quizzes, homework, and projects to assess students' learning, retention, and success…

Our main goal in this study was to explore whether the use of models in molecular genetics instruction in high school can contribute to students' understanding of concepts and processes in genetics. Three comparable groups of 11th and 12th graders participated: The control group (116 students) was taught in the traditional lecture format, while…

This research tested the hypothesis that students' erroneous mental models about groundwater will change towards more valid concepts if they are taught on the basis of a mental model-building strategy that focuses on the clarification of students' misconceptions. To examine the hypothesis a quasi-experimental research design was chosen. The…

This paper first evaluates discipline classification schemes and general differences between disciplines associated with the natural sciences and those associated with the humanities. It then reviews research which either asked students how professors in these fields teach, observed teachers in their classrooms, or asked students to describe their…

A handbook for University of Georgia graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) is presented that provides practical information about teaching for inexperienced GTAs as well as experienced teachers who seek new ideas. Attention is directed to: responsibilities of assistantships; relationships with faculty and with students; policies, procedures, and…

Presented are written explanations and critical evaluations of the major teaching practices now being used in undergraduate education. Discussed are both traditional approaches to teaching (lecturing, testing, leading discussions) and new approaches (using a personalized system of instruction, teaching with computers, developing learning…

A mailed survey sent to faculty from 132 medical technology schools, 64 medical laboratory technician schools, and 58 certified laboratory assistant schools yielded 355 responses concerning most frequently vs. least frequently used teaching techniques and most effective vs. least effective teaching techniques. Information on where and how…

Focusing on avoiding consumer frauds and misrepresentations, this document is one in a series of three consumer education modules developed to educate individual adult consumers in important areas of consumer affairs. An introductory section provides an overview of the module contents, suggested approaches for using the module, and suggestions for…

The effects of student instructional preference on performance in an engineering course offered both by Personalized Instruction (PSI) and lecture/discussion methods were explored in a study of 113 university sophomores and juniors. In lieu of random assignment to instruction mode, this study employed self-selection, the most common situation in…

One of a series of bibliographies within a larger series on mental health inservice training and training methodology, this publication contains 346 abstracts, annotations, and other recent selected references (largely 1960-68) on apprenticeship, coaching, programmed instruction, correspondence study, lectures, group discussion, meetings,…

The seventh publication in a series of subject presentations in the field of administrative management for use by educators and businessmen who teach management courses is presented. These presentations are intended to be particularly useful to Distributive Education in the smaller community where library research facilities are limited and…