A study investigated the effects of grading practices on the oral production and attitudes of high school students in first-year German courses. The effectiveness of structured situational practice activities on oral communication with and without grading were examined. Results indicated that there were differences in proficiency as related to…

This study investigated characteristics differentiating life-long learners from low participants in learning among 195 human service professionals in southern New England. Discriminant function analysis of seven extracted factors and three demographic variables indicated significant differences distinguishing the two groups. (TJH)

"Older Students in Education" (Kelly) reports on a survey of Open University older undergraduates; "Teaching the Older Learner" (Bilston) looks at survey responses about study methods; and "Adult Education, Equal Opportunity and Old Age" (Cooper) considers educational policy for older learners. (SK)

Presents the results of a study that examined the characteristics and motivation for studying of language students who attended a summer program. The article provides new evidence on the specific reasons students chose to study an intensive short course and their general motivation for studying a foreign language. (16 references) (CK)

Teachers need to encourage wonder, curiosity, and speculation in their students, and in themselves, because these emotions form the wellspring of science and discovery. By limiting their curriculum to the known world and proven facts, teachers may stifle their students' curiosity about the unknown. (MDM)

Describes a home-based family literacy intervention with a mother and her four children. Highlights the importance of motivation and family involvement in developing literacy skills.(SR)

The concept of student motivation is discussed, with applications for facilitating competence development in special and remedial education. Consideration is given to 4 prerequisites to competence development, historical obstacles to motivational interventions, motivational systems theory (MST), and 17 MST principles for motivating students. (SW)

The Inmate Editor of "The ECHO," a newspaper for 50,000 inmates in the Texas Prison System, describes teaching an illiterate young prisoner to read and write; states that the majority of inmates are barely literate; and urges teachers never to discount their own impact as role models and to infect children with the desire to know. (MLF)

Discusses research on the ways in which academic outcomes are influenced by the interaction between (1) the motivation and determination of elementary school students; (2) teacher and student roles and attitudes; (3) classroom exchanges; and (4) forms of instruction. Describes four environments that encourage student responsibility for learning…

A discussion of mathematics anxiety and learned helplessness in mathematics focuses on student failure and avoidance in college mathematics learning. It explores possible causes and suggests classroom activities to foster students' interest and success. (MSE)

Research suggests mature college students use more desirable approaches to academic learning, adopting a deep approach (meaning orientation) more often and a surface approach less often than younger students. Explanations include motivation by intrinsic goals; acquisition of a surface approach by younger students in secondary education; and…

Suggests the use of key historical antisocial acts to teach social studies concepts as a means of arousing the interest of adolescents. Recommends overcoming initial sensationalism by shifting emphasis to more appropriate interests. Includes discussion of the Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy assassinations and the Rosenberg spy case. Suggests…

Presents classroom activities using banknotes to teach history and social studies. Suggests that students' interest in money can be utilized to teach about geography, national heroes, symbolism, and the image a nation wishes to present to its citizens and the rest of the world. Lists sources for obtaining banknotes and directories to help identify…

Out of 92 New South Wales pupils identified as talented in primary schools, 3 left school before the end of year 11, and 15 failed to place in the top 25 percent on Australian Higher School Certificate tests. Affective patterns leading to inappropriate study habits and lack of motivation were gleaned from questionnaire responses. (Author/PB)

Critiques Boshier's normative model for adult education futures, which has three components: learner motivation, level of need, and future centeredness. Finds that the first two components encourage unnecessary conflict between individual and societal needs; recommends replacing "needs" with broadly based educational goals and…