Questionnaires completed by 454 gifted students (8-17 years old) revealed perceptions about school activities, attitudes, and labels. Three conclusions were drawn: 1) incorporation of computers, especially in elementary programs; 2) expansion of independent study for junior high levels; and 3) increase in small group involvement with teachers at…

Describes program model for independent study courses for students of German at Cleveland State University, emphasizing how to keep students motivated without regularly scheduled class and how to reduce the amount of time required to administer the program. Believes courses cannot replace regular courses but can help in situations where enrollment…

Study compares withdrawal rates, attitudes, and test performances of college students who were allowed to proceed through an introductory psychology course at their own pace with those kept on an instructor pace. Superior performance was obtained from instructor-paced students. (RM)

Findings from two experiments showed that students can effectively manage their learning needs in a computer-assisted instructional (CAI) system when provided continuous, updated advisement information about their achievement (diagnosis) and instructional needs (prescription) in relation to the objective. (Author/DWH)

Concludes that if the course is designed to aid the student in obtaining information, assimilating it, and presenting the findings in written and oral modes, the usefulness of independent study as a means of teaching business communications is questionable. (FL)

In the face of increasing competition for informational and educational services, a convincing case might well be made for increasing support for continuing education through libraries as a viable response to the issue of public library survival. (Author)

The use of independent study contracts as a method of individualizing educational planning for the gifted allows gifted students to pursue in depth a topic or field of study, to use outside resources when appropriate, to make decisions about the mode and media to be used, and to assume some responsibility for their own learning. (SBH)

The authors propose a three-stage model for gifted education which proposes a hierarchy of instructional activities to enhance creative thinking, problem-solving skills, project abilities, exploratory reading, and independent learning capacity. Activities which extend the three-stage model to career education for the gifted are described. (SBH)

Presented is a report on the cost-effectiveness of an engineering economy course which is being taught by the personalized system of instruction method at the Montana State University. (BB)

A series of study guides was developed to accompany a mathematics textbook. The guides were designed not only to teach the content, but also to inculcate good study skills. Experiments verified that the guides were more effective than a lecture course. (BD)

This article presents two broad aspects of audio technology: as a developmental tool for gathering information and an instructional tool. Three applications of audio instruction and two innovations (variable speech and audio indexing) are described. (Author/BD)

An educator's self-directed critical reflection on experiences led to the following discoveries about faculty development: articulation of assumptions about educational processes, explication of knowledge claims about development, and identification and examination of faculty development conventions. (SK)

This model of self-directed learning integrates three dimensions: self-management (contextual control), self-monitoring (cognitive responsibility), and motivation. (SK)

Contrasts the dominant view of distance education as mass production and independent study (industrial model) with an emerging view incorporating interactive communications technology and personalized and collaborative learning (postindustrial model). Argues that computer conferencing is the most feasible and effective postindustrial technology…

Describes a study that investigated the effectiveness of prototypes of interactive learning environments used for independent learning in the Open University of the Netherlands and the University of Ghent (Belgium). The prototypes differ in the extent that they support interactivity in embedded support devices (ESDs) and the degree of…