The Superhighways Teams Across Rural Schools (STARS) program sought to demonstrate how pupil learning and teacher professional development might be enhanced by the use of multimedia resources made available over communications networks. Subsidiary goals included developing strategies to support isolated gifted students through collaborative work,…

A study investigated the relationship between the degree to which students in an elementary foreign language immersion program use appropriate grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary, and how many minutes per week teachers use direct instruction to teach these skills. Elementary foreign language teachers (n=53) were surveyed to (1) investigate…

This report describes a program for improving listening skills, lack of which interferes with second language acquisition. The targeted population was first- and second-year Spanish students in one middle school and one high school. Intervention over 15 weeks included changes in the classroom environment (desk arrangement, improved lighting,…

Empirical evaluations of learning with hypertext have shown contradictory results. Adaptive hypertext was introduced to solve some problems when learning with hypertext. This paper reports on two empirical studies comparing different forms of adaptive hypertext. In the first experiment, four treatments were realized by a combination of adaptive…

This conference proceedings document contains 18 papers focusing on ideas and strategies for effective literacy instruction. Following opening remarks by Rita M. Bean, are four keynote addresses: "Toward Uncommon Sense Literacy Learning; Integrating Reading and Writing" (John Mayher); "Literacy Learning in At-Risk First…

A study investigated the possible relationships among situation-specific affective variables, motivational-attitudinal variables, and level of language learning in 70 students who were enrolled in a series of beginning Japanese language courses at the university level. Variables investigated included language class risk-taking, language class…

Foremost among many recent trends in education has been a surge of interest in small group instruction. Questions remain concerning the relative educational value of small group computer assisted instruction (CAI) or CBT (broadly defined as instructional use of computers). This paper presents the results of an investigation of 55 works on this…

This study assessed the impact on student learning outcomes of the Integrated Center of Public Education (ICPE), an innovative program in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) for at-risk students; and compared school educational programs of the ICPE and a regular public school serving the same low-income community and focusing on critical thinking competence…

This publication summarizes the findings of a 3-year study concerning the effectiveness of instruction that emphasizes meaning and understanding. In particular, the instructional approaches embedded the teaching of discrete skills in context and drew connections between academic learning and students' home lives. These strategies were applied in…

This final report documents a project which developed and investigated the use of interactive videodisc technology to assist in the instruction of signing with deaf children and their associates (such as parents, teachers, peers). The project first identified words and phrases considered essential for interpersonal communications. A videodisc…

A study investigated the instructional effectiveness of the Boswell English as a Second Language Program, a phonics-based language teaching program using interactive, multisensory (auditory, visual, tactile) computer technology. The program is a sequence of lessons designed to give non-native speakers an understanding of English phonological…

An evaluative study in New York (New York) comprehensive half-day public school prekindergarten programs serving language minorities is reported. The study investigated effectiveness of city policy supporting the use of the children's native (home) languages for some portions of instruction. Information was gathered on: (1) supervisory staff's…

This newsletter summarizes federal and state legislation concerned with the transition of youth with disabilities into further education or work. It identifies relevant provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specific federal resources concerning employment, transportation, public…

An instructional approach that promotes an interactive or experiential model rather than a reductionist model in special education is discussed. The approach, called instructional conversations, encourages students to use meaningful language without focusing on the correctness of form. The teacher's role is one of facilitating genuine dialogue…

The experience of one urban school district in developing and implementing a program of team teaching for bilingual special education students is examined. Bilingual education teachers, special education teachers, specialists in speech pathology and English as a Second Language, and principals collaborated to construct their own programs in one…