The Classroom Practices Survey, a national survey of nearly 4,000 third- and fourth-grade teachers, found little differentiation in teachers' instructional and curricular practices to meet the needs of gifted students. An individualized approach to staff development and encouragement of reflective teaching practices are urged. (DB)

Samples of freshmen from an open, distance-learning university (n=34) and a traditional university (n=20) were interviewed about their cognitive strategies, regulation of learning, mental models of learning, affective processes concerning learning, learning orientations, and perceptions of effectiveness of instructional approaches. Four…

Reports the design and evaluation of a prototype for learning modules compliant to the SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) standard for use with hypermedia systems in Web-based instruction. Discusses a study of undergraduates that considered relations between individual differences in learner characteristics, including intrinsic…

Examined the nature and stability of teacher ratings of early learning-related social skills in 72 preschoolers (3 to 4 years old) and again 1 year later. Confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling revealed that a construct labeled "learning-related social skills," tapping self-control, cooperation, assertion, and…

This study used data from the Australian Temperament Project to examine how child temperament characteristics and the "fit" between parent and child from early in life might influence social competence when children were 11 and 12 years old. Findings indicated that problematic child functioning, poor fit, or both, had negative…

Synthesizes the research on hypermedia-based instruction while providing a meaningful historical and conceptual framework for categorizing the research to date. Research relating to individual differences, attitudinal measures, systems analysis, and performance is examined, and concomitant changes in pedagogy are also addressed. Contains 98…

Investigates the interaction between the presence or absence of explicit instruction and the variables complexity and morphology/syntax in the acquisition of four second language (L2) structures. Results from computer-controlled posttests confirm the hypothesis that explicit instruction facilitates the acquisition of L2 grammar. (66 references)…

A study of six teacher education programs examined the preservice experiences of 70 novice general education teachers to determine conditions that may inhibit or facilitate their progress toward differentiation for academically diverse learners. Results found that their training in the nature and needs of exceptional learners was scant. (Author/CR)

Observed English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writing classes in Canada in order to document what the ESL instructors do when they teach. Findings reveal that the instructors gave more attention to collectively constructing language paradigms and to guiding individual development than other routines, and attracted student's attention in one way or…

Discusses research on phonological instruction that indicates that improvement in pronunciation for adult foreign language learners is possible via a multimodal methodology designed to accommodate individual learning styles. An extension of this research examines experimental subjects' improvement in pronunciation accuracy and pinpoints areas…

Most identity development models are unidimensional and mutually independent. They rarely acknowledge multiple cultural identifications or their relationship to diversity-awareness training. This article discusses this relationship in a four-stage conceptual model for diversity identity development and its implications for the design, structuring,…

Describes the development of a 3-D virtual environment for secondary school and college physics and chemistry. Discusses individual learning styles; the effectiveness of visual stimuli in science education; implications of visual learning in designing instruction for differences in learning styles; and conceptual understanding. (LRW)

This study made three comparisons: (1) online searching on a native command language vs. searching with a commercial front end system; (2) end user searching vs. mediated searching; and (3) searching an education database vs. an engineering database. The results show end user searching to be as satisfactory as mediated searching. (93 references)…

Summarizes the following differences between adult learners and more "traditional" college age students: (1) chronology; (2) developmental progression; (3) motivation; (4) learning style; and (5) intellectual development. Discusses the debate concerning general education. Discusses the necessity of accommodating the needs of the students and ways…

The article presents an instrument to help identify teachers' current teaching styles to encourage teachers to utilize teaching styles responsive to individual students' learning styles. The inventory assesses instructional planning; teaching methods; teaching environment (student groupings, room design, and learning environment); and evaluation…