Finds that those undergraduate students who need to improve their performance the most were least likely to seek feedback and were also lower in self-esteem and self-efficacy. (SR)

Discusses engaging preservice teacher education in distance education activities so they could discover and construct meaning. Presents the concept of constructivism and instructional design guidelines. Describes the telecommunications course and learner objectives, including course design, distance learning projects, and learners' frustrations…

Autonomic reactivity to cognitive stress was assessed in 10-year-old boys who were rated as either disruptive (n=18), anxious-disrupted (n=18), or not disruptive or anxious (n=15). Electrodermal activity, cardiac reactivity, and muscle tension were higher during a mental arithmetic stress task for the anxious-disruptive group. (Author/SW)

This study compared the effects of two cover, copy, and compare interventions on the written multiplication performance of two elementary school students with behavioral disorders. The verbal response condition resulted in greater increases in written multiplication performance and occasioned more than twice the number of opportunities to respond…

Discusses a study of how attributions and types of situations influence U.S. and Finnish undergraduates. Explains that both groups reacted to hypothetical situations. Reports that subjects experienced greatest pride when attributing achievements to effort or ability and greatest shame when attributing failure to lack of effort. (SG)

Addresses linguistic features associated with the differentiated curricula of high school classrooms and consequences for learners of the school language. This article explores processes by which language minority students are placed in tracked classrooms and the means some use to negotiate the system to change. (64 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses how teachers can help music students overcome performance anxiety. Divides performance anxiety into four major components: physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological. Suggests fighting anxiety with relaxation techniques, imagery, cognitive statements, positive thinking, practice, and preparation. Discourages use of…

An experienced high school teacher describes how exposure to John Dewey's educational philosophy and Foxfire teaching methods changed his attitudes and classroom techniques. Discusses the relationship between process and product in the Foxfire classroom and the relationships among teacher, student, and subject in a democratic learning environment.…

Three first grade students who exhibited difficulty completing independent work improved their math performance when given recording devices to self-record performance data, with two of the children showing more reactivity when using the more obtrusive device. Three of four second grade students increased math performance during periods when peer…

Most praise coming from teachers is ineffective or damaging because the compliments fail to encourage students. Praise should have three qualities: contingency, specificity, and credibility. Praise is most effective if it is personal, sincere, and focused on improvement and if it allows students to judge their own behavior and achievements without…

Ways in which scientists and science students respond to anomalous data are analyzed. There are seven distinct ways in which they respond, only one of which is to accept the data and change theories. Factors that influence theory change and implications for science instruction are reviewed. (SLD)

A study of 58 Victoria University (Australia) students investigated factors in their learning experience that encouraged or discouraged academic involvement. Results suggest students experience involvement in qualitatively and quantitatively different ways that appear to be related to different approaches to learning and that interaction of…

Describes the use of microcomputer-based software in an introductory statistics course at Vanderbilt University. The use of Wingz spreadsheet and Data Desk statistics software is described, objectives for the course are explained, possible objections to computer-assisted instruction for statistics are addressed, and student reactions are reported.…

This study, involving four secondary-age students with moderate to severe mental retardation, found that four response prompting conditions (progressive time delay and the system of least prompts, both with and without a descriptive consequent event) were effective in teaching reading of recipe words with similar efficiency and maintenance. (JDD)

Describe the experiences of a writing teacher as she completed a biography-writing assignment along with her students. Notes that teachers can gain insights into (and an understanding of writing they assign) by doing the assignments along with their students. Notes that many students, even reluctant writers, produced memorable biographies of…