A rationale is presented with examples of an approach for professionals in the health sciences to becoming more self-directed in the ways in which they continue their education throughout their career. The five objectives of the discussion are: (1) to understand the functioning of the mentor role as it is used to guide self-directed education of…

This self-study program for high-school level contains lessons on: Speed, Acceleration, and Velocity; Force, Mass, and Distance; Types of Motion and Rest; Electricity and Magnetism; Electrical, Magnetic, and Gravitational Fields; The Conservation and Conversion of Matter and Energy; Simple Machines and Work; Gas Laws; Principles of Heat Engines;…

This study was designed to determine what types of evaluation practices are being carried out in schools involved in flexible scheduling and independent study. A questionnaire, designed to determine if a flexibly scheduled school had included the independent study phase of instruction and if an evaluation program for this phase exists, was sent to…

This study attempts to determine the value of individualized instruction used in three sociology classes at Moraine Valley Community College (Illinois). The classes incorporated a programed learning textbook, measurable behavioral objectives, instructor-student conferences, self-paced learning, and immediate student gratification. A questionnaire…

Three external degree programs--National Ed.D. Program for Educational Leaders, Nova University (Florida); University External Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh; and Field Centered Courses, Department of Early Childhood Education, Kent State University--are compared on the basis of a series of questions. Is the course designed for a…

This is the initial publication of a series of self-study manuals on optical radiation measurement, and contains the first three chapters. Additional chapters will be published when completed. These chapters include: an introduction to optical radiation and the ray approach to its treatment; an introduction to the basic radiometric quantity…

A self-study program for training postsecondary vocational education teachers using 15 instructional modules is described. (EC)

Self-study courses in universities, polytechnics and colleges in the United Kingdom and Ireland, increasingly used in undergraduate science teaching, place great emphasis on individual study of prepared materials, primarily written units. A survey of forty-three such courses is reported including positive data on outcomes. (JT)

Vocalizing and nonvocalizing pairs and individuals solved four three-attribute conjunctive problems. In terms of overall effectiveness, vocalizing pairs were superior; individuals vocalizing to a confederate, individuals vocalizing to the experimenter, and nonvocalizing individuals were intermediate, in that order; and nonvocalizing pairs were…

This investigation was designed to answer questions related to the use of packs for self-instruction, through observation, questionnaires, free response, and individual and group interviews with over 150 students. Responses are reported along with suggestions for improving the system in use. (JEG)

Results of a study comparing Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) and lecture approaches using 301 community college students indicate that students in a PSI class do not perform better than students using a traditional lecture method, although PSI students scored higher on material learned early in the course. (MB)

The Independent Human Studies program at Schoolcraft College offers an alternative method of earning academic credits. Students delineate an area of study, pose research questions, gather resources, synthesize the information, state the thesis, choose the method of presentation, set schedules, and take responsibility for meeting deadlines. (MB)

An individual evaluation is presented of a Fellowship in Residence at the University of Cincinnati in 1975-76, which was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The experience consisted of independent research and a seminar entitled "Approaches to German Prose Fiction." Recommendations for future seminars are offered. (SW)

Discusses how the audio-tutorial system originated, how it is currently implemented at Purdue University (independent study sessions, general assembly sessions, and small assembly sessions), and some factors which may determine the effectiveness of its application. (VT)

An attempt to replace a tradition of theoretical rote memorization by objective-oriented learning is described, based on an experiment involving teaching anatomy to dental students at the Royal Dental College in Copenhagen. Both students and teachers favored this independent learning system. (Author/LBH)