This study investigated the effects of previewing and providing background knowledge for American short stories on Taiwanese students' comprehension of the stories and attitudes toward the treatments. Implications of the findings for reading instruction in second-language classrooms are discussed. (JL)

Discusses users' perceptions of computers versus human beings as advice givers in problem-solving situations based on two studies conducted at Stockholm University (Sweden). Examines people's self-confidence and perception of advice, and concludes that perception relates to existing attitudes, experience, and domain knowledge. (Author/LRW)

Describes study that sought to find the ratio of liberal arts to nonliberal arts courses taught in the nation's community colleges; the extent to which the curriculum is devoted to nonliberal arts; the number of transferable nonliberal arts courses; and the variability of transfer of these courses. Considers the transferability of nonliberal arts…

Describes a survey of Wisconsin academic library support staff that explored the effects of computerization of libraries on work and job satisfaction. Highlights include length of employment; time spent at computer terminals; training; computer background; computers as timesavers; influence of automation on effectiveness; and job frustrations.…

Discusses the proper uses of new technologies for higher education. Topics include: the need to develop new educational strategies, adult learners and distance education, prior learning, understanding material and being able to apply it, reexamining teaching methods, the use of electronic mail and computer conferencing, and the need for…

Describes a Canadian study attempting to relate the motivating power of interest to children's writing performance by supplementing background knowledge with topic relevant information. Reports that children with tutorial support on high interest subjects performed no better than others. Concludes that the motivational power of interesting topics…

Includes four articles: "Career Aspirations" (Field); "Making the Transition to a New Curriculum" (Baker, Householder); "How about a 'Work to School' Transition?" (Glasberg); and "Technological Improvisation: Bringing CNC to Woodworking" (Charles, McDuffie). (SK)

Objectives of this study were to create a prototype of an interactive hypermedia textbook and to explore the relationships between learners' performance and use of available learning tools (i.e., textbook glossary and navigation map). The effects of prior knowledge on textbook use and performance were also investigated. (11 references) (EA)

Discussion of technology transfer planning in both developed and developing nations focuses on the selection of a cadre, i.e., a group of trainees who will then train others. Topics discussed include goals and objectives; change strategies; strategic plans; and cadre selection, including experience, education, communication skills, and interest in…

Fifty-three elementary school children were tested on Incidental Science Knowledge, i.e., knowledge acquired by chance outside school, and the results obtained were correlated with intellectual development and cognitive style as measured by interviews and group testing, respectively. Indicates that cognitive style and misconception play a…

The ability of 59 college students to access prior knowledge spontaneously in the form of a general procedure and a specific strategy was demonstrated using a training for transfer paradigm. Results are discussed in the context of transfer-appropriate processing and transfer-appropriate procedures models of learning and memory. (SLD)

Examines the relationship between computer anxiety and computer experience for older (over 55) and younger (under 30) adults. Data were collected from 422 subjects using attitude and anxiety scales. Results indicated that older adults were less computer anxious than younger adults but had less computer confidence. No gender differences were found…

Francophone learners of English as a foreign language performed metalingual and preference tasks requiring them to utilize second-language knowledge brought to mind under an aural priming activity or a written task. Results indicate important differences between recall with awareness and recall without awareness, which strongly suggests a positive…

The influence on interlocutors' relative content knowledge on conversational participation in interactions between native speakers (NSs) and nonnative speakers (NNSs) with limited oral skills is investigated. Results indicate that both NSs and NNSs appeared conversationally active, but there were different patterns of participation that could to…

Teacher educators must understand how personal histories influence the development of new teachers' pedagogies to influence how personal histories shape conclusions preservice teachers reach during college. The article examines insights gained from personal histories, discusses pedagogical thinking, and explains the impact educators' personal…