The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center--the MET--is a multimillion-dollar Rhode Island effort to emphasize learning in real-world situations. Internships have become the torque that drives each student's education plan, focusing on higher level skills rather than on skills specific to a certain trade. (MLF)

Discussion of the use of telecommunications for curriculum development focuses on activity structures which can be used as instructional design tools. Rather than replicating lesson plans or other ideas from the Internet, activity structures encourage the creation of individualized, context-appropriate environments for learning. (LRW)

Describes "Sort, Search, and Discover," a spelling instruction strategy that assesses students' current knowledge and individualizes the study of words with common spelling patterns or rules. Discusses how it was developed, the five-day instructional plan, and how to adjust for an inclusion classroom. (SR)

Describes a young, future-oriented high school in New Hampshire aiming to foster student thinking, honor teamwork, inspire teacher self-reflection and teaming, and provide a caring learning environment. Key personalization ingredients include appropriate mindset, consistent focus on mission, creation of a respectful and caring environment,…

Discusses the problem of content-area textbooks that are not matched with students reading levels. Describes how exemplary content-area teachers moderate the textbook mismatch problem and improve student learning by creating a multi-source, multileveled curriculum, providing student choice, and offering individualized instruction. (Contains 15…

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program graduates (n=1,141) who received either individual (21.3%), group (76.2%), or combined (2.5%) instruction were assessed. Independent of method, participants significantly improved the number of servings consumed from grains, vegetables, dairy, and meat and meat alternatives; total calories consumed;…

Makes the case for dynamic assessment, in which individualized instruction and feedback are built into the testing process. Urges the use of dynamic approaches to help psychologists and teachers collaborate on classroom-based interventions. Calls for studies to examine the utility of approaches. An appendix identifies target group, nature, and…

This article asserts that the learning disabilities field must (1) address causality in differentiating learning disabilities from other learning problems, (2) expand prevailing approaches to individualizing instruction so that intrinsic motivation is accounted for in a systematic, comprehensive manner, and (3) move beyond piecemeal programs to…

Suggests ways to use microcomputers to teach reading skills to students with learning disabilities. Discusses the operation of microcomputers, learner-centered software, and current research. Concludes that using microcomputers to remediate reading difficulties has great potential, provided the needs of the individual student are met. (RS)

Educators can resolve the perennial conflict between those wanting to spare students the stigma of failure and those concerned with maintaining standards by adopting Carl Washburne's evaluation method. During the 1920s, Washburne proposed "adjusting the school to the child" by individualizing instruction and using evaluation to discover…

This regular column offers suggestions useful in the education or rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments. The suggestions involve making instructional audiotapes that students can use at their own pace to learn math, vocabulary, capitalization, and other topics; making tactual maps; and using a special art tape to make tactile lines…

Ability grouping's positive aspects (improved self-concept, achievement, and individualization) affect students in higher ability groups, whereas its negative aspects (impaired student mobility, instructional quality, self-concept, and achievement) affect students in lower ability groups. To make ability grouping work for all students requires…

Evaluation of a personalized system of instruction (PSI) on the spelling performance of 10 behaviorally disordered elementary students found improved spelling accuracy, further improvement when same-day retakes were allowed, improved student attitudes, and student preference of the PSI spelling program over traditional approaches. (Author/DB)

Argues that personalized system of instruction (PSI) and other contingency managed methods of instruction are effective for teaching higher order cognitive skills. Answers critics claims that instructional delivery system is not responsible for course content. Notes that PSI has been used in courses requiring higher order skills. Reports that…

A study aimed to enhance the opportunities and access to literacy training for women with a non-English-speaking background. Options are proposed for the development of literacy skills from which learners and teachers can choose to suit their own needs. (Contains 20 references.) (LB)