For several decades there has been a trend towards project work, independent study, and guidance from the lecturer rather than instruction. The library and other polytechnic-wide services, it is argued, can be exploited to produce more effective and economical means of achieving an institution's objectives. (MLW)

Ohliger debates the issues raised by Smith (CE 511 136), taking the view that mandatory continuing education is an unacceptable method of ensuring professional quality because it is inherently contradictory to the definition of professionalism, and its effectiveness has not been demonstrated convincingly. (SK)

Fifty-five college women enrolled in competency-based, humanistic, or self-directed educational programs listed reasons for program selection and completed personality inventories. The results question the assumption that different programs are for different personality types and suggest perceptions of purpose as more important factors. (MSE)

Reports on two do-it-yourself treatment programs for dealing with stage fright. One program followed a systematic desensitization paradigm; the other was a handout listing 16 strategies for understanding stage fright. Higher ratings were given to the handout strategy. A list of the 16 strategies is included. (Author/RC)

Reports on an evaluation of the self-directed English study program for adults of C.R.A.P.E.L. (France). The evaluation is based on an analysis of 15 recorded interviews covering 20 hours of conversation between individual students and program counselors. Only students' comments on their progress, their problems, and learning strategies are…

A study to test the hypothesis that self-instructional programs in nutrition and dentistry are as effective a teaching method as traditional lectures is discussed. The results of the analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the test scores in the lecture and self-instruction groups. (Author/MLW)

This paper examines the world-wide phenomenon of distance education in terms of student characteristics, course creation, two-way communication methods, and some theoretical approaches. (Author/SJL)

A method of study which is inefficient but used by large numbers of students taking courses in mathematics is described. The wide relevance of the problem, for subjects other than mathematics, is also examined. (MP)

Described is the Independent Learning Project for Advanced Chemistry (ILPAC) as it is utilized in Hydeburn, a tribe school in London. The teacher describes how she uses the program with her upper and lower A-level chemistry groups. As a result of this program, pupils seem more articulate in educational discussions. (Author/DS)

Described is independent study research at Garden City High School (Garden City, NY) involving ten students studying seasonal beach erosion, salt marsh preservation, sludge leachate hazards in bays, and sewer outfall effects on barrier bays. Outcomes include better understanding of the scientific process and careful, accurate research. (Author/DS)

The Learning Exchange System, or Learnxs, was created in Toronto in 1973 as a three-year demonstration project concerned with the use of informal community-based learning resources for individual and group learning. The system produced a detailed directory of organizations, places, and individuals which could offer learning experiences. (JN)

The major difference between individualized and traditional instruction methods is the pattern of student interaction with the teacher, with the classmates, and with the learning materials. (JN)

A component of a freshman psychiatry course in which students are permitted to pursue independent study in any aspect of the human life cycle is described. Examination of student topics over a three-year period revealed that many chose areas of study relating to significant past personal experiences. (Author/MLW)

Instructions involving high-level questions and answers either were or were not given to fifth and sixth graders in three learning environments: cooperative, competitive, or independent. Students who received the instructions showed greater gains in recognizing and generating high-level questions. (GDC)

Describes the Career Oriented Pre-Technical Physics (COPP) curriculum. This curriculum, comprising 29 modules, uses a hands-on, practical, nature to stress the career-vocational aspects of physics. Students design their personal curricula and proceed at their own pace. Evaluative information, comparing this program with other physics curricula, is…