Noting the success of Britain's Open University with its reliance on self-paced workbooks, independent reading and computer-based instruction, this article offers a case study of the introduction of a resource-based learning component in the final year of an honors geography course. States that helping students maintain regular study patterns was…

Museums, libraries, zoos, parks, historical sites, and other cultural institutions can be vehicles for much self-directed learning. This article reviews these opportunities and efforts to utilize them. It discusses cultural institutions as invitational environments, conditions of learning in cultural institutions, and tools and initiatives for…

Recommends pluralistic general education programming to accommodate diversity in faculty orientations, values, and perceptions of knowledge; and disparity in students' academic ability, values, and preferred learning styles. Suggests a multi-track general education model emphasizing different, but equally demanding, educational experiences for…

A survey of students who completed portfolios of self-acquired competencies to earn credit for prior learning at Indiana University reveals the benefits derived from the process including self-esteem, ability for self-evaluation, and better focus for their degree programs. (SK)

Determined whether significant differences exist in cognitive achievement and in the level of acquisition of practical skills among ninth-grade students (N=1025) in cooperative, competitive, and individualistic learning conditions in science laboratories. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for more productive science laboratory…

A Northern Illinois University elementary teacher education program in which certain courses are taught with the use of self-paced courseware packets is described, and the technique's usefulness in promoting and integrating computer literacy in the curriculum is discussed. (MSE)

Examined the effectiveness of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic interaction patterns in promoting acquisition of science process skills during biology laboratory activities. Results (from 720 secondary students--352 girls and 368 boys) show that competitive interaction was superior to cooperative and individualistic interaction…

Although the basic objective of providing some local support services for Britain's Open University students has been met, some feel that the services are not operating optimally, and there is no direct evidence that the services achieve their stated goals, including reducing attrition, enhancing achievement and satisfaction, and giving academic…

Highlights are offered of one district's 7 years of experience with a Walkabout program. Steps found to accelerate individual effectiveness among adolescents include building confidence, responsibility, attitude, and skills. These steps have also been appled to adults in seminars for teachers and administrators, a school improvement process, and…

Described is a community experience activity, utilizing independent study, which was implemented in a secondary alternative school in Canada. As a result of an initial visit to the local community, students had to come up with a product (e.g., an essay, arrange for a guest speaker to come to class). (RM)

A learning system is a logical arrangement of learning experience progressions designed to improve the relevance of educational topics to the individual student, using such strategies as pre- and post-assessments, recycling activities, learning laboratories, small and large group meetings, and independent study. (MB)

Under individual reward conditions, sociometric groups were found more likely than random groups to function outside the classroom, whereas under shared reward conditions both types of groups were equally viable. Working in groups did not affect subsequent individual test performance; however, on a joint project, teamwork resulted in better…

A study was undertaken to ascertain the extent to which programed instruction is capable of developing creative behavior. Students were taught creative problem solving using programed instruction alone and using programed instruction with an instructor. The results showed that the instructor-taught groups were superior on various tests of creative…

Reports on some growth points in the use of microteaching techniques. (Editor)

The Independent Study Program (ISP) at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry is described and its objectives specified. Data are reported for measures of achievement, personality characteristics, and academic-professional experience. Costs and faculty evaluation of the program are also given. (Author/LBH)