This review of the literature examines the effectiveness of instructing students in various test-taking strategies, particularly in reference to multiple choice questions. Among findings reported are that while test-wiseness strategies may be taught, these strategies have limited generalizability across exams and learners who proactively process…

Metacognition has received recent attention by researchers and teachers alike because of the possibilities for successful instruction and intervention for readers at all levels. This paper explores the area of metacognition as it relates specifically to reading comprehension. The paper addresses six areas: (1) the definitions of metacognition,…

A study examined grades on speech assignments in a college public speaking course as a function of students' preferred learning strategies and expressed learning motives. Subjects, 112 undergraduate students enrolled in the basic public speaking course, had their levels of communication apprehension and motives for learning measured early in the…

This document consists of a number of figures and diagrams suitable for overhead transparencies that illustrate and elaborate on the prnciples of failure-oriented training (a model for improving the effectiveness of instructional analysis). By adding a few simple steps to analysis, the resulting training will be closer to the idealized tutor:…

Music has an important place in the lives of many people as shown through this compilation of descriptive statements on music. One hundred and three people responded to a request from music educators to share their thoughts about how music has influenced their lives. Comments of leaders in entertainment, government, and business are contained in…

This report reviews a practicum designed to study and address problems of the physical play environment of a preschool which served children of 2 to 5 years. The goals of the practicum were to: (1) increase the amount of time children spent in physical play activities; (2) enhance the play environment by the addition of at least 10 pieces of…

Andragogy continues to generate discussion and capture the imagination of many adult educators. However, early critics have been joined by an increasing number of educators, researchers, and practitioners who question andragogy's theoretical and practical efficacy. This article reviews the nature of the andragogy debate and advances a revised…

This document describes an instructional analysis technique believed to be an expedient and effective alternative to the Gagne-Briggs model because, among other reasons, it is easier to teach to novice trainers. The technique is in use in the U.S. Marine Corps. The document consists of the following: an overview of the different kinds of analysis…

A role is proposed for the lexicon in the grammatical consciousness-raising (GCR) framework for second language teaching outlined by W. Rutherford and M. Sharwood Smith (1987, 1988). First, a lexical framework that offers a series of questions to help teachers discover the relevant semantic and pragmatic information associated with grammatical…

This paper presents two puzzles that have emerged in a series of completed and ongoing studies at Queen's University, Ontario. These puzzles concern teachers' professional knowledge, a term used to refer to the non-propositional forms of knowledge assumed to be of importance to professional action. This research assumed that the professional…

Intended for use with elementary school reading and language arts teachers, this outline for inservice workshops in critical thinking organizes information on classroom strategies, curricula, and materials. Included are questionnaires, worksheets, and checklists on teaching the development of critical thinking and comprehension. The topics and…

Before explaining the Teach-Practice-Apply (TPA) model for instructional improvement, an overview is presented of three general factors necessary for effective instruction: knowledge of content area; knowledge of teaching and learning theory; and the ability to select and use appropriate teaching strategies. It is assumed that teachers using the…

The responsibility of all teachers to help children develop spelling strategies is addressed in a series of articles in this journal supplement. Following an introduction by the editor, the articles and their authors are as follows: (1) "Development in Word Knowledge" (Peggy Goldsmith); (2) "Spelling Can Be Taught" (Faye Bolton…

A description is given of the development and implementation of an inservice program, "Project Excel," which was designed in accordance with andragogical theory. This theory is based upon four major assumptions: (1) as people grow, they become increasingly self-directed; (2) as people grow, a reservoir of experiences which provide a…

This book is designed to help teachers critically assess major ideas about what teaching is and should be. Using both classical and contemporary perspectives, three basic approaches to teaching are offered, and the strengths and weaknesses of each are explored. The "executive approach" views the teacher as an executor, using the best learning…