The increasing numbers and influence of older adults is causing many segments of western society to re-evaluate the concept of old age. Medical advances and personal lifestyles have resulted in older adults living longer and healthier lives. As one ages, adjustments in work, family, and health must be made. Self-directed learning (SDL) is one way…

This publication offers teachers and principals a program for customizing schooling to individual students' learning needs and motivating them to take increased responsibility for deciding what and how to learn. It presents a comprehensive framework for introducing self-directed learning (SDL) approaches in the classroom. Nine chapters include:…

This paper examines the challenge of teaching online classes to students who have difficulty with organization and time management. Online learning is far removed from the traditional classroom learning rubric. Online education requires students to navigate a multi-layered information path. The first step toward student preparation is to assess…

This book provides examples of embedded learning and study strategies, all of which represent success stories used by teachers and support teams in real classrooms. Seven chapters focus on: (1) "Overview: The Teacher's Role in Inspiring Independent Learning"; (2) "Primary Grades: Building a Strong Foundation" (e.g., simple memory strategies,…

Independent Study (IS) at Brigham Young University (Utah) enrolls nearly 17,000 high school students and 13,000 college students each year. Results of student evaluations are used to help determine to what extent the IS courses and instructors are meeting student needs. IS administrators decided to redesign the student forms to provide a better…

This study addresses the implementation effects of an in-service training program on self-regulated learning for secondary school teachers. A quasi-experimental, treatment-control group investigation was designed to test the effects of this program. Study results suggested that the in-service program on self-regulated learning had little or no…

This book suggests strategies for creating meaningful project and work-based learning experiences that were developed by teams of vocational and academic teachers and addresses the support issues necessary to sustain successful efforts. It begins with a description of the design team model and activities of the Vocational Integration with…

Designed to help any person develop the communication skills required for the global business environment, this book teaches not only the basics but also many of the finer points of communication. The book features: (1) the five keys to successful communication; (2) how to use words and body language effectively; (3) how to communicate in the…

Intended to help international business people create business documents of style and substance for correspondents in many different cultures (correspondents whose second or even third language is English), this guide is extremely useful for the millions who travel internationally, work abroad, and correspond with business people in other…

Writing figures prominently in accounts of foreign language learning that is specially concerned with promoting the development of learner autonomy. Writing things down plays a prominent role in the autonomous foreign language classroom. The learner texts presented and discussed in this paper invite reflection on three issues of general importance…

This final report describes the activities and outcomes of a federally funded project designed to produce and field-test two computer-based interactive CD-ROMs: "PEGS! for Preschool" and "PEGS! for Secondary School". These programs, in a game format, provide beginning general and special educators with independent practice in…

This final report discusses activities and outcomes of "Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: A Continuing Education Program for Nurses (CFIT Nurses)," a Virginia program designed to develop and implement a model of training to ensure that nurse practitioners and registered nurses have the information and skills needed to be…

This study stems in part from a desire to correct the misapprehension that Japanese students are somehow less autonomous than learners from other cultural backgrounds. The view that Japanese learners tend to be passive, obedient, and quiet is commonly accepted. Much of this "evidence" is anecdotal and comes from teacher observation of…

Recently, there has been a large amount of research in the area of self-access language learning (SALL) showing that students around the world react favorably to SALL (Gardner and Miller, 1997; McDonough and Shaw, 1993; Richtcrich and Chanceril, 1980; Sheerin 1989; 1991). There have even been a few reports showing positive results with students in…

A course combining aspects of traditional and self-instruction is described. Students' positive reactions exceeded expectation, and students favored the relaxed pace, practice exercises, and immediate instructor feedback. A disadvantage was faculty time required to provide feedback. (MSE)