This article discusses the use of mnemonic techniques in helping students acquire new information and apply that information in problem-solving situations. It outlines common academic learning problems and the dynamics of mnemonic strategies and applies the strategies to remembering definitions, factual information, processes, functions, and…

Examined whether preschool children focus on a small number of attributes or attend to whole exemplars in learning basic categories for fictitious animals. Found little evidence that children employed rules, but found strong evidence that children encoded exemplars as integrated wholes during category training. Discusses implications for theories…

Assessed the effectiveness of exclusion or selection (modified trial-and-error) training in establishing auditory-visual conditional relations. Subjects were boys (ages 8 to 11) with learning problems in school. Found that exclusion training was significantly more effective in teaching new auditory-visual conditional relations and in generating…

This paper describes the Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities Test and recommends its use to assess discrimination acquisition or learning-to-learn skills of persons with severe and profound disabilities. (DB)

Reviews articles in this issue that deal with theories of constructivism from the point of view of an instructional designer. Highlights include technology and constructivism; generative learning environments; learning processes; assessment; learning strategies; knowledge domains; learner control; and suggestions for both constructivists and…

Development of the Learning Strategies Survey is described, and two related studies involving 1,091 college students (354 males and 737 females) are presented to demonstrate use of this survey to predict learning from expository text. Factor analysis yielded two stable factors of high internal reliability and acceptable test-retest reliability.…

People learn to learn as they develop their concept of knowledge. The heart of the learning process is self-awareness, self-monitoring, and active reflection. Teaching and learning should be an interactive process, which should involve both learning and learning how to learn. (SK)

Lists and annotates eight items from the ERIC database that discuss ways to motivate children to use the library and to read. (PRA)

Develops an Information Text Reading Activity (ITRA), a conceptual framework for presenting reading lessons that will engage students in reading informational text actively. Notes that the framework provides a basis for selecting and evaluating instructional activities and assists the teacher in moving students toward independence in learning. (RS)

Describes VOCAB-LIT, a technique for helping students understand literary elements through vocabulary study. Finds that the VOCAB-LIT technique is an effective strategy for integrating vocabulary study and literature study. (RS)

The paper presents a research-based case for mnemonic instruction with mildly disabled students, and recommends learning tasks, designs, and implementation formats. Evolution of the research, from theory-driven laboratory research to long-term classroom applications, is described. Recommendations are offered for further research. (Author/JDD)

The paper argues that the strategies instructional approach should be infused into preservice teacher training programs. Reconfiguration of course structures and preparation experiences should include not only "what" is taught about learning and teaching, but also "how" teacher trainers incorporate the principles of strategies…

Analyzes the problems involved in teaching Russian verbal aspect to English speakers, and suggests an explanation of the problem of achieving bilingualism through use of C.S. Peirce's trichotomy of interpretants: emotional, energetic, logical. Peirce's classification of signs and interpretants is used to define learning strategies employed by L2…

Instead of diagnosing students' individual learning styles, a Seattle eighth grade teacher tries to help students become more aware of their own styles and develop strategies for dealing with the diverse demands of school and life in general. Students learn about style through informal debriefing of class activities and through formal instruction…

Assesses the effects of on-line advice messages that suggest learning strategies to the user. Results support the proposition that the design of learner-controlled interactive video materials for language teaching may be potentially helpful to students who do not come to a database environment equipped with effective language-learning strategies.…