Discussion of prior learning and acquired knowledge focuses on a study at Ben Gurion University (Israel) that examined the occurrence and nature of learning in an earth science course and its relations with prior knowledge from a prerequisite course. Highlights include concept definitions; cognitive mapping; course sequencing; and course design.…

Describes the Ontario college system's Prior Learning Assessment program for adult learners, focusing on outcomes and characteristics of students completing the process at Seneca College from April 1994 to February 1995. Indicates that of 77 participants, 46 were female, the mean age was 31, and 81% passed the process successfully. (BCY)

Discusses the need for a graduate degree in librarianship. Topics include differences between undergraduate and master's level courses; experience; in-house training programs; incentives for library support staff to get a master's degree; and professionalism, including the ability to build community, technological literacy, and a belief in the…

A study of 144 college students divided into high and low prior-knowledge groups and assigned to four treatment groups found (1) little interaction between prior knowledge of the human cardiovascular system and treatment and (2) significant effects on the drawing test. Terminology and elaboration tests revealed little effects among treatments.…

Investigates textual coherence of popular psychology articles mediated through the theory of frames and identifies the linguistic evidence of factual frames. Inferencing is also discussed as a supplementary means to comprehension, with particular reference to the notion of bridging assumptions. Evidence for textual frames is discussed in relation…

Focuses on interactive journals and literature study to illustrate four principles: connect students' background knowledge and personal experiences with literacy lessons; foster the use of students' primary language in literacy lessons; create opportunities for students to meaningfully and authentically apply their developing oral language and…

Tested how domain-related knowledge, syntactic complexity, and reading topic influence inference generation in the written recalls of English-speaking participants after they read Spanish historical texts. Three types of inferences were examined: within-text inferences, elaborative inferences, and incorrect inferences. (Author/JL)

Provides a rationale for and a brief description of an adjunct program that focuses on helping minority students identify and understand their experiences in crossing cultures as a means of helping them succeed in a science and society introductory course. (WRM)

Describes how the core principles of learning science lead to associated best practices in instructional design and how to translate those into practical applications in Web-based online courses. Topics include knowledge construction; student motivation; higher order learning; learning styles; experiential learning; cooperative and collaborative…

Examines the effect of knowledge about language on the learning of foreign language skills and grammar. Students (n=252) completed a questionnaire, metalinguistic awareness test, Raven's Progressive Matrices Test, a linguistic creativity test, and English tests. Hypothesized that students' knowledge about language would have a significant effect…

Analyzed 1.5- and 2.5-year-olds' problem solving and learning. Found that changes in toddlers' strategies could be assessed reliably on a trial-by-trial basis, that changes followed the basic form predicted by the overlapping waves model, and that analyses could reveal information about the qualitative and quantitative aspects of their learning.…

Investigated how an expert elementary teacher implemented constructivist-oriented teaching strategies to engage students' critical thinking skills when learning creative dance. Data from teacher and student interviews and videotapes of creative dance lessons provided contextual information about using appropriate constructivist-oriented teaching…

Presents a series of standard demonstrations as examples of activities that can be used to introduce multiple concepts and tie different sections of an introductory physics course together. Contributes to changes in classroom dynamics by stimulating student engagement and encouraging inclusivity. (Contains 23 references.) (DDR)

Describes trends in students' explanations of biological change in organisms. Student responses to questions on how graphically depicted phenomena occur were analyzed and most students were unable to offer causal explanations. (Contains 27 references.) (DDR)

The brain is a complex organ and learning is a complex process. While there is not complete agreement among researchers about brain-based learning and its direct connection to neuroscience, knowledge about the brain as well as the examination of cognitive psychology, anthropology, professional experience, and educational research can provide…