The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the problems and prospects of applying production function or input-output analysis to the process of schooling. The cognitive aspect of schooling is discussed here and is restricted to those aspects readily measured by achievement tests. It is argued that education production function studies should…

Describes the following roles and duties of teachers working as a team in the Hope Essential High School: (1) plan the curriculum; (2) have flexible schedules; (3) have common planning time; (4) advise students; (5) choose own grading system; and (6) promote the ideal of student-as-worker. (BJV)

This study examined the effects of grouping students by ability or achievement on middle school students' academic achievement. Mathematics achievement scores from the California Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) were obtained from 25 seventh graders randomly selected from a group of 80 who had received instruction in an ability-grouped setting for…

This booklet focuses on aspects of effective education that appear to be universal in formal schooling. The practices, which are generally for use in elementary and secondary classrooms, show large, positive learning effects for students in widely varying conditions. Information in the booklet is based on research spanning half a century. Each…

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…

Main traits of the mastery learning theory and its relations to other innovatory approaches are sketched. A Finnish school experiment, with the experimental group (160 first graders) following mastery learning principals, is presented and positive results discussed. Advantages of learning strategy and practical difficulties restricting its…

Discusses the instructional effectiveness of various educational media, including illustrations; visual-based instructional media, including films, filmstrips, and television; programed learning; computer-assisted learning; audio-tutorial instruction; methods of group organization; and mastery learning methods. Research methodologies are also…

Recent empirical research has identified significant advantages for interactive video instruction over traditional teaching methods in "soft skill" (humanities and social sciences) areas, including cognitive achievement, transfer of learning to performance, learning motivation, student achievement across uncontrolled student characteristics, user…

Describes an evaluation of the effects of the Mathematics and Science Computer Assisted Remedial Teaching (MASCART) software on students at the University of Botswana. Treatment of experimental and control groups is explained, effects on ability groups are discussed, and increased time on task and student motivation are considered. (14 references)…

This study investigated the effects of different teaching styles on the teaching behaviours that influence motivational climate and pupils' cognitive and affective responses in physical education. Four (two male, two female) initial teacher education (ITE) students and 92 pupils (47 boys, 45 girls), from two schools in the UK, participated in the…

In order to realize one of the most important necessities of the life, which is learning, the human being spends most of their life for education-training activities. In the conventional applications, every individual, being a part of a group is dependant on a single program and an educational management which was chosen for the group by the…

This newsletter examines the continuous progress (CP) curriculum, the primary characteristic of which is flexible pacing for the student. The newsletter notes some of the practical concerns limiting implementation of CP curricula, and how some schools have overcome them. It then discusses four issues that schools must address to employ a…

The Social Circle (Georgia) School System is in the first year of full implementation of mastery learning in reading and mathematics for grades K-5. In response to a state mandate for competency-based education, the board of education adopted a program which included mastery learning and promotion standards. In order to fulfill the goal of…

This guide was designed for developers of mastery learning materials for competency based learning situations. Topics include: (1) how mastery learning works and how the mastery learning process can be used in the classroom; (2) the advantages of mastery learning; (3) how to determine if mastery learning is right for student needs; (4) how to…

An analysis is presented of a review of research reports on the efficacy of direct instruction in fostering basic skills development. The review process began with a topical literature search using the ERIC database and conventional library methods. Articles and other documents were analyzed and abstracted into "Item Reports." Each of…