The basic tenet of Programed Instruction (PI), that learning occurs best when knowledge is imparted in small increments, appears to apply to associative rather than deductive process. One may best learn definitions via association, and best learn inference via unified understandings. This hypothesis was tested by structuring two modes of…

Two separate subject matter areas were selected for investigation which were felt to represent two distinct types of learning situations. One was a kind of logico-mathematical procedure; the other was a visual form discrimination task. Two separate courses were developed for each subject matter area. One reflected an inductive instructional…

In the debate on instructional objectives, some argue for reducing all objectives to statements of student terminal behaviors, while others want open-minded objectives which allow for diverse, unpredictable outcomes. A synthesis of seemingly incompatible behavioral specification and open-endedness is proposed: (1) Behavioral objectives need not…

Student performance in a self-paced personalized system of instruction course is varied in rates and patterns of work. Using 118 students in a college level introductory psychology course the investigators found 1) students worked at a variety of rates and patterns; 2) students who started to work early had a much greater chance of finishing the…

This study, conducted by a research team from the Behavioral Sciences Center of Nova University, investigated three features of the inservice teacher training program, connected with Project Impact in Jacksonville, Florida, which are not found in most projects involving performance contractors. First, Duval County was the first district to prepare…

Shows how a contract approach to grading can also enrich and internalize some of the basic principles of an introductory college-level psychology course. Through class activities, students are provided with an arena for embellishing some of the theory and principles learned in class. (Author/JR)

Describes the use of a performance checklist for teaching nursing staff to conduct a basic neurological assessment. The checklist is reported to be an extremely objective evaluation tool and provides immediate feedback on performance. A copy of the checklist is included. (Editor/TA)

Seventeen active attention-problem elementary children were given copying tasks to determine whether they were more attracted to color stimulation than normal controls. Among other findings, results suggested that experimental children responded to tasks differently when color was used and that their performance was better with relevant color than…

While gender differences in mathematics achievement and attitudes overall have been declining during the past two decades, there still exists a disparity in advanced mathematics achievement and upper-level mathematics course-taking patterns that contributes to fewer females than males choosing professions in math, science, and technology fields.…

This investigation, which was part of a larger dissertation study, examined high-level performance in groups of people with developmental disabilities and the instruction that facilitated such performance. Specifically, it focused on those aspects of instruction that appeared to be particularly effective in eliciting a high level of performance in…

Paper presented in Ottawa, Ontario, October 13, 1972. (DS)

Several skills important to successful learning by discovery were found to be less essential to successful learning by rule. Results also supported the hypothesis that the outcome of discovery is the structural integration of previously known concepts, while the outcome of rule learning is the addition of new structure. (Authors)

Paper describes a public speaking course that has been taught successfully for six quarters at Florida State University. (Author)

Procedures and conclusions drawn from their investigation to determine the effectiveness of using both the visual and auditory sensory modes, as opposed to using only the auditory mode, when the procedure of having children check their own tests is utilized as part of spelling instruction. (Author/RB)

New faculty members participated in a seminar that provided them with opportunities to meet peers and more experienced faculty, become acquainted with their institution's philosophy of education, learn about effective methods of instruction, and improve their teaching effectiveness. (WM)