This paper presents an overview of 15 years of international study designed to determine the nature of motivational beliefs, values and goals held by students from different cultural groups, the comparability of these beliefs, values, and goals with those promoted by classrooms and schools, and the impact individual, cultural/social, peer, family,…

A middle school teacher of writing to learners of English as a Second Language describes two techniques used to improve student participation and guide the writing process. The first is to select a writing topic to which all students can relate. In this case, the teacher asked students, in a class discussion, to give their own definitions of…

This paper assesses the current state of research and informed opinion on the benefits of multimedia computer software for students with disabilities. Topics include: a definition of multimedia; advantages of multimedia; Multiple Intelligence Theory which states intellectual abilities consist of seven components; motivation and behavior…

The focus of this paper is to present non-traditional or alternate instructional methods in remedial mathematics education at the community college level. However, these methods will apply to credit math courses as well as courses from other disciplines. With the large number of students needing remediation and the United States traditionally…

This report describes a program for improving the retention of science concepts and motivation through the use of technology. The targeted population consisted of seventh grade students in a suburb of a large Midwestern city. The problem, due to lack of access to technology, was documented through student surveys, teacher observation, previous…

In the past 10 years there has been a revolution in information technologies, a revolution that has forever changed the way librarians and library media specialists view and teach "library skills". The frightening thing is that 5 or 10 years from now, many of today's most exiting and promising innovations will be completely obsolete, and…

The aim of this book is to investigate the motives for action on language behavior, whether this means corpus, status, or acquisition planning. It examines such questions as why individuals, groups, and governments try to influence their own or others' language behavior or language attitudes, and what drives authorities to try to control, favor,…

This collection presents current thinking and research on the sociocultural influences in student motivation. After an introduction, "Bridging the Sociocultural Divide: An Encouragement for Researchers To Consider a Wheel of Research Perspective" (Shawn Van Etten and Dennis M. McInerney), the 14 papers include: (1) "The Self in…

This document presents an innovative curriculum framework for helping individuals aged 16-25 years reconnect with learning and develop the "soft skills" needed to manage their lives and relationships. The guide contains ideas and approaches to help mentors and program managers implement the Getting Connected program, which is designed to…

This booklet presents the stories of several students who were the first generation in their families to go to college, in order to dramatize the door-opening, life-changing power of Pell Grants and related student assistance. These stories synthesize interviews with more than 20 low- and moderate-income students who could not have attended…

This study examined differences in adolescents' levels of autonomy as a function of parenting and parental involvement practices and the adolescents' year-end grade point averages. Participating were 872 adolescents, with a mean age of 14.45 years, attending 5 French-speaking public high schools in Quebec, Canada. Measures were subjects' general…

This report summarizes issues facing New Zealand's modern adult literacy movement and places it in the context of the rapidly changing skill demands of the 21st century. Part I introduces political, economic, and social issues facing New Zealand. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the issues and structures that create the current climate. Part II…

The factors that influence learning in workplaces were examined through a study of guided learning in five workplaces. Special attention was paid to the dual considerations of how workplaces afford opportunities for learning and how individuals elect to engage in activities and the guidance provided by the workplace. The readiness of the workplace…

This study used journals and image notebooks to examine English as a Foreign Language (EFL) university students' cognitive skill development as they completed pleasure-reading activities that preceded creative writing tasks. Participants were freshmen at Taiwan's National Yang-Ming University who were enrolled in an English reading and writing…

Implementing pay-for-performance salary structures has been used successfully in business and can result in benefits for educational systems when implemented along with other compensation reforms. Business leaders can help in the implementation of teacher pay-for-performance systems in the following ways: (1) ensure that pay-for-performance plans…