Discussed the individualization of vocabulary teaching in the ESL (English as a second language) classroom: (1) indirectly, through extensive reading, and (2) directly, through suitable vocabulary exercises. An experiment involving word frequencies is described that assessed the probable effectiveness of an indirect approach.

Describes a computer-assisted chemistry program which allows for individualization and which utilizes BASIC computer programming. (SL)

The Critical Teacher Behavior Observation Instrument is currently being tested at the University of California; its function is to help teachers increase knowledge of their teaching so they may determine what teaching skills need to be improved. (JD)

Nontraditional, external degree components of the IPCD (Institute for Personal Career Development) packages are competency based in anticipation of the fulfillment of personal and career objectives rather than for the fulfillment of traditional classroom objectives. (ABM)

It is recommended that undergraduate second language teaching include individualized instruction, cultural education, testing for mastery, and emphasis on communicative competence. Textbook selection is also discussed. (SW)

Preservice education specifically, and teacher education generally, should be more of a collaborative responsibility and an interrelated endeavor than it presently is. (Author)

Cost is viewed as one consequence of individualization or contract learning rather than as an objective. Issues of accountability, faculty salaries, curricular unit framework of analysis, and formulae for cost prediction are addressed. (LBH)

Describes a writing program for secondary vocational/technical students that was based on two-week modules incorporating the concept of individualized instruction; includes an annotated bibliography of titles for use in secondary English classes for vocational students and materials potentially useful to teachers designing courses and curricula.…

One hundred fifty-nine 7th grade mathematics students were involved in a study comparing mastery and objective evaluation methods on attitudes and achievement. Achievement was found not to be significantly related to the evaluation method while low ability students had more positive attitudes toward mastery as compared to objective evaluation. (CP)

Reviews pertinent science education literature on comparative studies of individualized self-pared instruction with conventional teacher-centered, lecture-demonstration instruction. (CP)

The introduction to the special section on microcomputers in special education reviews the trend toward increasing computer use, raises such issues as the need for special educators to provide leadership in the use of computers for individualized instruction, and summarizes remaining articles in the section. (DB)

A project that attempts to overcome the principal obstacles and to provide an efficient and effective method of teaching information retrieval skills to second-year medical students is described. The method includes a pretest, a diagnosis of deficiencies in information skills, a self-paced learning module, and a posttest. (Author/MLW)

A literature search identified 39 studies assessing modality preferences and modality teaching. The studies, involving 3,087 disabled and nondisabled elementary/secondary level subjects, were quantitatively synthesized. Subjects receiving differential instruction based on modality preferences exhibited only modest gains. (Author/JDD)

Salient features of an ideal system of instruction are discussed. There have been recent attempts to write formulas for instruction and to individualize teaching in ways suggested by the science of behavior. DNA technologies may some day enable us to trace correlates of intelligence. We could then design individual educational strategies. (RM)