Independent study can be a way for the sympathetic classroom teacher to meet the needs of the student who is either gifted and unchallenged or academically capable but underachieving because of boredom or rebellion. Discusses the independent study program at Las Cruces High School, New Mexico, and the advantages and disadvantages of independent…

Presents a description of the Naturalist Center of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History. This is a center where curious people cna come to "piddle" with specimens. (MDR)

Describes a few of the frustrations and disappointments found in an alternative program for secondary students. (Editor/RK)

Having no faculty or classrooms and offering no courses by mail or television, the external degree program at Thomas Edison State College in Pennsylvania is described as an accredited program whereby college credits are gained primarily through the use of CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests and individual assessment. (BM)

The article explains a vertical, two-year case study of student progress in science classes at the Franklin Learning Center, an alternative high school which offers students a competency-based curriculum, utilizing self-paced, individualized instruction in the classrooms. (NQ)

Information on various study carrels to provide individualized learning space for training use is presented. It is noted that carrels may be standard models or customized, and most are wired for audiovisual equipment. A list of study carrel suppliers and manufacturers is included. (MF)

This series of exercises provides review of the Spanish subjunctive mood. (CHK)

Reports on progress on the Finnish National Board of Vocational Education's current experimental program related to adult vocational education. Preliminary results indicate that (1) educators prefer the teacher-dominated classroom instruction tradition and (2) students would prefer flexible teaching that allows them to work at their own pace. (CH)

Described are seven steps used to help self-directed learners to work through the Diploma in Primary Health Care (Education) course at the University of Witwatersrand. The steps are: situation analysis; compilation of a competency profile; self-assessment of learning needs; writing learning objectives; compilation of a learning agreement;…

To maintain the integrity of graduate study in physical education and related disciplines, educators should define that study in terms of extended faculty research, independent study and its interconnection with other aspects of the field. These ideas are discussed and recommendations based on them are made. (JL)

Three alternative instructional methods (instructor demonstration, demonstration plus independent study, and slide-tape presentation) for a basic food preparation laboratory were developed to facilitate the increased student achievement levels. Student performance, attitudinal, time, and cost data showed differences in effectiveness among the…

Essays are presented in which the authors offer four entirely separate perspectives on the issue of correspondence study's image. The authors examine the defensiveness of some of correspondence study's practitioners, the role of scholarship in correspondence study's image, the lack of such scholarship in the United States, and university-level…

Discusses various elements of self-directed education for lifelong education: the nature and essence of self-instruction, self-instruction and the development of personality, motivation for self-instruction, forms of self-instruction, and participation in self-instruction activities. (CT)

Identifies predictors of participation in educational activities by active older adults and describes the educational needs addressed by their present participation and their future learning needs. Awareness of sites where educational activities were available was found to be the best predictor of participation. (Author/CT)

This study investigated whether using learning contracts in higher education enhances adults' readiness and competencies for self-directed learning. Findings suggest that the use of learning contracts has little impact on developing readiness for self-directedness, but does have some impact on developing competencies for self-directed learning.…