The National Science Foundation funded a project to: (1) identify major areas of science education research in which sufficient studies have been conducted to permit useful generalizations for educational practice; (2) conduct meta-analyses of each of these areas; and (3) prepare a compendium of these meta-analyses along with interpretative and…

Parkrose School District's goal-based instructional program is designed to meet state minimal-competency requirements, keep the district's students abreast of national and local performance, and inform parents and the community of district students' progress. In response to public concern over students' declining basic skills, the state of Oregon…

Developed for non-English speaking grade 1 students, this skills check list was designed to evaluate rapidly and to monitor a student's mastery of suggested learning. Following the Migrant Student Record Transfer System skill's list, the check list is a suggested list of learning needs to be mastered, along with some helpful ideas for…

Aspects of the Total-System Design (TSD) approach to instructional design in medical laboratory science that was implemented at Creighton University are described. In a four-year project, TSD principles were used to produce the uniform, systematic, and complete definition of a medical technology major within a program of study leading to the…

Text and accompanying exercises are provided in this two-part learning module that was designed to assist instructors in providing high-risk, non-traditional students with a sense of self-direction and control over their academic progress. Part I discusses the concepts of internal and external locus of control and describes how they correspond to…

A reading program implemented in the Birmingham, Alabama, public schools in 1974 has produced increases in reading achievement in each of the years it has been used. Prior to 1974, the average Birmingham student's standardized reading test scores ranged from two months below the national average at the end of first grade to one year and nine…

The major purpose of this study was to compare self-instructional mastery and nonmastery treatments to determine if there are differences in learning, retention, and time-to-testing of high, middle, and low aptitude students. Twenty grade 7 classes from the Savannah-Chatham County School District served as the experimental population. Students…

Briefly reviews research on ability grouping and points out effects of such grouping on student achievement, self-concepts, and attitudes. Suggests ways in which educators can make significant differences with learners by implementing effective organizational practices as alternatives to ability grouping. (BB)

The concept of performance levels in criterion-referenced assessment is explored by applying the idea to different types of tests commonly used in schools, mastery tests (including diagnostic tests) and achievement tests. In mastery tests, a threshold performance standard must be established for each criterion. Attainment of this threshold…

The relationship between instructional treatment manifested as mastery learning and non-mastery learning strategies and various measures of Spanish proficiency was studied with 41 freshmen at an all-female high school in the New Orleans (Louisiana) area. Subjects were grouped homogeneously into 2 classes of 22 and 19 students, representing the…

This book is a manual for educators to use in curriculum planning and development. Chapter 1 examines the nature of curriculum and its relationship to instruction by (1) defining curriculum and the four main levels of curriculum work (curriculum policy, field of study, program of studies, and course) and (2) distinguishing between six types of…

This collection is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The six titles deal with the following topics: (1) a comparison of mastery and nonmastery learning approaches to teaching reading comprehension to Title I students in second through sixth grade, (2) induced mental imagery and the comprehension…

Focusing on remedial reading instruction for primary level students (grades K-3), this handbook presents training materials for teachers and coordinators of Chapter 1 reading programs. After a discussion on the nature and purpose of the program, the handbook describes a model of Chapter 1 programming, presenting three combined approaches that are…

The effectiveness of traditional models of remedial education of students has been called into question. Current research supports models that would merge remedial and regular education and provide all students with broad curriculum access and the opportunity to receive instruction that is adaptive to their needs. Guidelines for addressing…

Many classical pianists want to develop jazz piano skills because they have acquired: (1) an awareness of the importance of jazz as an art form; (2) an attraction to the sophistication and complexity of jazz music; (3) an interest in exploring contemporary music styles; and (4) a desire to become involved with a type of music which is viewed as…