This paper uses the Brunwik theory of probabilistic functionalism as the backdrop for discussion of interrelationships between the individual learner and the design of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). This Brunswik learning model depicts the acquisition of knowledge as governed by the proximity of various cues and distractions. It is also…

An action research project addressed the problem of inadequate student knowledge of writing strategies and students' negative attitudes toward the writing process. The targeted population consisted of early childhood, first grade, and third grade students in two growing, lower/middle class communities located in the western suburbs of a large…

Service-learning is a teaching strategy used by Texas middle schools that combines classroom learning with community activities and where both students and teachers plan activities and projects that meet a well defined school or community need. These activities strengthen academic learning by addressing learning objectives, allowing students to…

An essay on use of cooperative learning (CL) techniques in the second language classroom looks at the benefits of CL, examines the current status of their use, particularly in Singapore, and makes recommendations for implementing CL techniques in second language reading instruction. The discussion begins with a review of literature on group…

This report studied intermediate grade students identified as learning disabled in a resource room setting to examine the effects of adapting repeated reading and sustained reading while manipulating level of text difficulty in a peer-mediated format. Twelve resource room teachers identified 67 students with learning disabilities and reading…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 2-year (1987 through 1989) project on the design and evaluation of specific marker and student outcome variables in school learning environments for effective mainstreaming of students with mild disabilities. The report is organized into eight sections; these include a project…

Thirteen studies were conducted that focused on whether preschool and elementary school students with mild and moderate disabilities learned target and non-target behaviors when two types of instructional manipulations were made to direct instructional trial sequences. In one type, the related, non-target behaviors were presented during…

Designed to be used by practicing teachers, students who are learning to become teachers, and faculty members who instruct such students, this manual describes an instructional manipulation for teaching children with mild disabilities that increases opportunities for learning through the addition of extra information. The technique described uses…

A study of 786 fourth-grade students (229 gifted and 557 nongifted) assessed the effects of both heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping in cooperative learning settings on the performance of gifted and nongifted students. Results found that gifted fourth-grade students experienced no adverse effects as a result of interacting with nongifted…

The Connecticut State Department of Education began the Celebration of Excellence in 1986 as a program to recognize and reward veteran teachers for their development of innovative and exemplary classroom curriculum projects. The program has received substantial support from private and public sectors. This report is a summative evaluation of…

This collection of 12 essays provides an overview of research on effective teaching in higher education. It includes: (1) "Perceived Control in College Students: Implications for Instruction in Higher Education" (Raymond P. Perry); (2) "A Motivational Analysis of Academic Life in College" (Martin V. Covington); (3) "Turning Work into Play: The…

The report resulting from a colloquium of scholars on teacher development and promising educational practice for ethnolinguistically diverse populations is summarized. The group met to discuss the urgent need for teacher preparation to meet the needs of increasingly multilingual school populations. Two major conclusions were reached: that…

As part of a plan to assess institutional effectiveness in terms of academic achievement, faculty in the instructional subunits at Gateway Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, have developed and/or revised mission and purpose statements for their respective areas, have specified outcomes related to both student academic achievement and other…

The Computing Potential in Atlanta Public School Education (CPAPSE) was developed to determine teacher attitudes about computing potential as an instructional tool and to compare current practice with potential computing applications to determine the degree to which computer resources are being used in grades 2, 3, and 4. During the last week of…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of progressive time delay in teaching three male preschoolers with disabilities to imitate their peers during arts and crafts activities. The subjects were enrolled in a half-day, mainstreamed program designed for children with autism. Teacher-delivered peer-mediated trials were embedded into a daily arts and…