Language learners use different learning strategies, specific actions and behaviors to help them learn, at least partly because their general learning styles, or overall approaches to learning and the environment, are so varied. Learning style encompasses: cognitive style; patterns of attitudes and interests; a tendency to seek situations…

Diagrams showing the components of structural knowledge and the theoretical basis for structural knowledge introduce four tables presenting information on: (1) implicit strategies for conveying cognitive structure, including content/structures signalling (Meyer), frames/slots (Armbruster and Anderson), and Elaboration Theory (Reigeluth and…

Academic learning is a complex activity which is not easily modified. Several models have been used to deliver learning improvement programs, including the study skills course and the discrete skills approach. These approaches make few if any accommodations for variations in individual differences or needs. Four factors, however, indicate that…

This report argues that there exists a pervasive tendency for analogies to contribute to the development of entrenched misconceptions in the form of reducing complex new knowledge to the core of a source analogy. The report presents a taxonomy of ways that simple analogy induces conceptual error and an alternative approach involving integrated…

The American culture's emphasis on individualism may fail to recognize that help-seeking can be an important proactive skill in the achievement domains of school and work. While research has shown that the majority of students obtain some help from peers or instructors, the study of help-seeking as a learning strategy has been virtually neglected.…

Arguing that college mathematics education must be made more effective, especially for technology, engineering, mathematical sciences, and physical sciences students, this paper presents nine general principles to enhance math instruction for all students. Introductory material argues that changes in perception, attitudes, and role models are…

The article examines the concept of educational self-direction in teacher education, an educational environment that encourages the use of initiative, thought, and independent judgement in learning, through consideration of relevant theory and research and empirical investigation involving the development of a questionnaire to assess educational…

Learning disabled students can make more effective use of computer assisted instruction if they incorporate four metacognitive strategies: (1) awareness of task goals, (2) knowledge of applicable learning strategies, (3) selection of appropriate learning strategies, and (4) self-monitoring. (DB)

College subjects were required to read and recall an expository text. They recalled information about fewer topics if they were randomly ordered and the introductory paragraph was uninformative. Subjects recalled information about more topics if the text contained topic sentences. Readers used representation of a text's topic structure to guide…

The use of both low structure and high structure teaching strategies is recommended for the teaching of reading to learning disabled children, with the goal of children becoming independent users of appropriate strategies. (Author/DB)

An advanced undergraduate comparative psychology course is described. Reviews the methodological goals and traditional roles of comparative psychology courses. Focuses on research strategies for relating group differences to specific processes and for inferring the evolutionary and developmental histories of behavior. The conclusion stresses the…

A comparative psychology course oriented around the themes of phylogeny and ontogeny is described. The course emphasizes the evolution and development of behavioral processes and includes a discussion of the concept of integrative levels and Schneirla's approach/withdrawal theory. The course evaluates genetic determinism and stresses the principle…

Responds to Robert Slavin's criticism of the Hunter model by listing recent research projects validating this teaching strategy. Defends the Hunter model as an effort to change teaching decisions based on tradition and folklore to theory based on judgments and wisdom. (MLH)

Defines action learning as it has been set forth by Revans. Argues against several points of action learning theory, including (1) the nature of group process, (2) the role of outsiders, (3) the inability to teach spontaneous questioning, and (4) the learning process. (CH)

Elaboration in learning involves meaning-enhancing additions, constructions, or generations that improve one's memory for what is being learned. Recent examples of applications of elaboration theory include efforts in the areas of meta-cognitive components of learning strategies, mnemonics, and text-processing strategies. (TJH)