An integrated overview of the processes involved in the establishment of a vocational program of study for the disadvantaged student is provided in this paper. Occupational analysis, the first step in the establishment of such a program, is discussed and divided into three steps: (1) major job tasks; (2) sub-tasks; and (3) specific job functions.…

This research review examines the effects of instructional variables on the learning of handicapped and nonhandicapped individuals. The research review begins with an historical look at learning disabilities research. An overall analysis of the differential effects of instructional variables on learning-disabled and nonhandicapped individuals…

This publication notes that while the elementary school student must learn to read, the secondary school student must read well to learn. With this purpose in view, this curriculum guide presents checklists that can serve as organizational tools for teachers who wish to plan meaningful reading experiences that develop skills and strategies for use…

The 11 journal articles reviewed in this annotated bibliography focus on ways teachers and principals can improve the quality of teaching. Among the four articles directed toward principals are two that relate to the culture of the school; another presents a model to principals for achieving quality instruction; and the fourth proposes six…

Selected papers presented at the Second Annual Mastery Learning Conference are summarized in this proceedings. First, Oscar Shabat stresses the roles of general education and basic skills instruction in the community college and introduces mastery learning and the conference. Next, Rocco Caponigri reviews the theoretical background of mastery…

Based on an extensive literature search, this paper reviews recent research and theoretical studies and discusses their applicability to Lansing Community College's (LCC's) Mathematics Laboratory. After noting the steps taken in data collection, part I describes LCC and its Math Lab, which offers developmental courses in a self-paced, mastery…

Installation of a success-based model of learning (that is, a mastery-learning-based system) will help superintendents make education effective and efficient. Such a system follows a number of concepts, including favorable learning conditions, teachers qualified in learning-centered practices, clear learning objectives, and alternative learning…

Reading improvement programs that have focused on additional staff for teaching, tutoring, and counseling; prescriptive, self-paced learning methods; unstructured open-education strategies; and intensive reading have often been successful in small towns and middle sized cities, but none has made a major impact on the reading achievement of…

Following the Migrant Student Record Transfer System skills list, this checklist, designed for non-English speaking students, is a system for rapidly evaluating a student's skill level and for keeping track of the student's mastery of suggested objectives at the second grade level. Objectives to be mastered with 100% accuracy include: reading…

High school mathematics teachers were trained to provide mastery learning instruction. A primary characteristic of this method of instruction is the feedback-corrective enrichment loop. This study was conducted to determine whether class time could be allocated for the principles of mastery learning within the fixed amount of available time…

A research-oriented project to improve the effectiveness of undergraduate education at the state University of Antwerp, Belgium, is described, and the higher education system and conditions in Belgium are noted. Attention was focused on the outcome-based paradigm, according to which the primary goal of instruction is to ensure that all students…

A review of research and proposed models on classroom processes allows identification of four key characteristics of effective classrooms in elementary and secondary education. The four characteristics encompass (1) teacher attention to student characteristics, including prior learning and learning styles; (2) congruence among the course goals,…

The validation of the competency based curriculum (CBC) of the District of Columbia Public Schools, prior to full scale implementation, is described. The CBC includes English, language arts, and science instruction in grades one through nine, and is based upon the demonstrated learning of specific behavioral objectives in the basic skills. The…

Extensive commitment to the remedial "tracking approach" over many years by the City Colleges of Chicago has not produced the desired outcomes. The results of several studies indicate that: student achievement in remedial courses has not resulted in improved performance in regular college courses; student and institutional retention is…

The first of three project goals formulated for the Cleveland Public Schools was to improve the level of mastery of specified language and mathematics skills. The second, but primary, goal of this three-year endeavor was to develop, implement, and refine a replicable mastery-learning instructional model involving a staff team (English teacher/…