Dealing with profound and severe mental retardation, the final report of Project TRAC (Training, Resources, Acquisition, and Control) describes activities and products of the project in the subject areas of parent involvement, educational/teaching techniques, assessment, and monitoring techniques. The report details the establishment of a resource…

Several techniques for teaching film appreciation to adults are discussed, including the use of audio cassettes, instructional films, silent films, and film dissection. Included are the techniques, philosophy, and content of a seminar on the short film, in which the short film is viewed as a variant of a short story, a pop song, a joke, and a…

This study was generated to design, implement, and evaluate a model to train Junior Service League volunteers to operate a toy lending library for use with young children in local day care centers. Each volunteer attended six 3-hour training sessions organized on a performance-based format and taught by the authors. Pre- and posttesting was done…

In language methods courses, there is an attempted integration of the concept of individualized instruction into all of the regular methods class activities. This integration can occur as follows: (1) In teaching language methods, different language learning activities for individual students are considered. (2) In discussing methods for teaching…

Data from a study investigating peer teaching in venereal disease (VD) education indicate that peer teaching is more effective in imparting knowledge and changing attitudes about VD as a disease, but that both peer teaching and traditional methods are equally ineffective with respect to attitudes toward VD prevention and behavioral intentions. (MB)

The authors discuss the development of a diagnostic-prescriptive teaching and learning program in the Youngstown public school system; give background material; describe organizational form and implementation; and conclude with a series of "points to ponder" for educators contemplating a similar venture. (MB)

Hard, soft, or medium? The issue involved here is not, as you might have hoped, "How do you like your eggs?" but it has to do with the equipment, content, and form of education technology. Hardware is the name in the trade for the mechanical or electronic tools and equipment; software is the material or the programs that are fed into, or…

Part One of a report on author's recent visit to the Peoples' Republic of China. (Editor/RY)

Article discusses different well-known educational philosophies and how improvements can be made in the educational system. (MM)

Innovation will flourish within a school environment that provides opportunities for teachers to plan, evaluate, and change through a cooperative and democratic process. (Author)

Cognitive and academic behaviors promoted by an ongoing, long-term Direct Instruction preschool project for poverty level children (N=109) are described. Children who received two years of training achieved at substantially higher normative levels than children trained for only one year and this advantage continued in first and second grades.…

Flexible learning is an approach which can benefit students with learning difficulties, by meeting learning needs through the flexible management and use of a range of learning activities, environments, and resources, and by giving students increasing responsibility for their own learning and development. The approach involves reflection, review,…

This response to Gersten and Dimino (EC 606 357) claims that their paper: (1) does not emphasize the considerable research literature associated with both the whole language and direct instructional approaches; (2) does not help teachers make balanced instructional decisions; (3) focuses on extreme positions; and (4) considers motivation only in…

The article reviews theoretical and research bases for the design and effects of the adaptive instructional approach for students with special needs in the regular classroom. Research indicates that the program can be implemented in a variety of school settings when supported by systematic staff development and organizational support. (Author/DB)