Examines the perceptions of instructors and administrators regarding self-directed learning modules for adult and younger students, comparing the modules' perceived effectiveness, benefits, and challenges. Addresses the issue of personal freedom versus the need for focus and guidance, finding that adult learners reported no freedom versus focus…

Examines and compares five available computer programs intended for self-instruction in Italian, focusing on their attention to learning strategies and personalized learning pace. Content, format, and other features of each are noted. General issues discussed include overall organization, cultural content, sequencing, exercise types, and ancillary…

Independent learners study in highly varied circumstances that impact upon the educational process. Media technologies can provide many new educational opportunities, but are context dependent. As educators, we need to develop a better understanding of learners by considering their attitudes and preferences for using media technologies in their…

This article feeds into the discussion of transitional issues begun in Volume 2 of "Arts and Humanities in Higher Education." It draws on research into A-level students' expectations of university English and how these compare to the experiences of first-year students, university lecturers and A-level teachers. The data presented are…

This report is one of nine detailed case studies of small urban high schools that served as the foundation for the Education Resource Strategies (ERS) report "Strategic Designs: Lessons from Leading Edge Small Urban High Schools." These nine schools were dubbed "Leading Edge Schools" because they stand apart from other high…

This training manual is intended to enable educators to utilize the SAGE Tri-Fold Model as a means for developing a process-oriented differentiated curriculum for elementary grade gifted students using either the separate classroom, the resource room, or the consultant teacher model. The program, a nationally validated National Diffusion Network…

This document is a library instruction manual for an introductory course on library research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The assignments provided are intended for independent study; a syllabus is included for the 7-week course. The manual is divided into seven sections. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the library system, services, and…

These workbooks are part of a Mexican series of instructional materials designed for Spanish speaking adults who are in the process becoming literate or have recently become literate in their native language. They provide readings and exercises for developing literacy skills. Pictures and fill-in-the blank exercises appear frequently. Volume 1…

The activities in this instructional resource book are designed to be used by gifted 4-8th grade students as independent research guides or in guided or cooperative learning environments. The activities are organized in three sections which focus the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Maya, and Minoa. The activities presented encourage development of…

A study examined patterns of self-directed learning among disabled adults and their adult caregivers in Lancaster, England. Data were gathered from the following sources: 117 completed semistructured questionnaires that had been distributed through carer organizations in Lancaster and Blackpool (England) and the surrounding area; semistructured…

The appreciative inquiry process was used to identify conditions enhancing self-directed learning. Participants in the project did the following: (1) used the five-step process to identify factors/conditions/forces that seemed to cause self-directed learning to occur; (2) created a matrix by combining the factors/conditions/forces with six…

This paper briefly identifies a number of contemporary pressures for change which condition the way universities will behave and which provide both opportunities and threats for the future; it then goes on to consider the implications for distance education universities. Pressures on universities include such factors as the growth of other…

The "Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: New Roles for Physicians" program was designed to ensure that pediatricians and family physicians have the information and skills needed to participate fully in a Virginia statewide system of early intervention. An inservice training model was developed and field tested with…

This document presents a selection of teacher designed activities to help meet the needs of gifted and talented students. The four teaching units focus on creativity, independent study, critical thinking, and communication skills. Introductory material explains how the teachers of Parkland County (Alberta) worked together in informal and…

The first section of this instructional guide explains why open learning needs marketing and what steps go into preparing a marketing campaign, including marketing the college and tutor time, service definition, service delivery, and communications. Changes in education that have affected open learning in recent years are addressed in the second…