Reports on a cross-section of high school seniors who were among the 40 students named as finalists in the fiftieth annual science talent search. Presents highlights from interviews with these exceptional teenagers being recognized for their independent research efforts in science, engineering, and mathematics. (JJK)

Described is a senior project course that is intended to prepare graduates for solving problems in a real engineering environment. Students in electronics engineering technology may choose between an independent study option and a structured course in which they design and implement a project in a specified field. The scheduling, evaluation, and…

At South Medford High School, Oregon, all seniors must complete a senior project that requires the following: write a 10-page research paper on a topic of choice; carry out a project that relates to the research; and speak about what they learned from the project and answer questions before a board of judges. Offers tips for starting senior…

The design of instructional and reference materials for French language teaching is discussed, focusing on design principles that facilitate individual, independent learning of vocabulary. (MSE)

A New Jersey high school district built four prototype classrooms to measure the impact of new technology and telecommunication tools on instruction, assess alternative instructional strategies, and determine the training and development needs of the staff. (MLF)

There are numerous major differences between the learning environments of colleges and universities and of the world of work. Graduates' short- and long-term productivity could be enhanced if the transition from one situation to the other were smoother and, if they were better prepared to be competent, self-directed learners. (Author)

Reviews theoretical and research literature on learner strategies and self-directed language learning, particularly concerning the role of metacognitive knowledge in learning. Argues that too little attention is given to the function of metacognition in language learning. Practical implications for second-language instruction are discussed.…

Computer-assisted language-learning literature points to a need for experimentation with innovative learning structures to realize the full potential of recent technological developments. Reports on a research project that addresses these concerns by exploring the experiences of 23 French second-language learners as they worked independently with…

Explores ideas of autonomy and the independent scholar that underpin traditional practices of postgraduate pedagogy, particularly PhD programs in the humanities and social sciences. Finds practices underlain by the gendered nature of ideas of autonomy and the paradoxical nature of the processes intended to produce the autonomous scholar self.…

Discusses free agent learners--those who take responsibility for self-directed learning--and offers recommendations related to the problems of recruiting, developing, and retaining competent workers in a period of labor market shortages and rapid technological change. (JOW)

A study explored the extent to which 142 undergraduate students' willingness and perceived capacity to engage in self-directed learning, and ability to think critically, were explained by psychological type. Results indicate extroverted intuition is a strong predictor for self-directed learning; psychological type did not predict critical…

The technology revolution may accomplish what 10 years of education reform could not. Traditional preparation programs no longer allow teachers to maintain "sage" status since they cannot know as much as the Internet can make available to students. Teachers in cyberspace know computers are about relationships and independent learning.…

Discusses the use of self-paced units. Development suggestions include determining the form of the units, including goals, responsibilities, and definitions of terms; keeping them short; including a variety of activities; and requiring that all lessons be completed at school. Contains sample units on climatology and meteorology, the sun, and…

Describes how a Web-based course incorporated a protocol for self-directed student learning to foster students' self-regulation. (EV)

An instrument to measure self-directed workplace learning was field tested with two samples of high school business teachers (n=240 and 540). The revised instrument had strong reliability and content and construct validity. It incorporates social, instrumental, and personal variables of self-directed learning in natural, noninstitutional settings.…