This study examined behaviors reflecting mastery motivation in 17 young (ages 2 and 3) children with moderate and severe cognitive delays. Results supported the application of the mastery motivation model to this group of children who used mastery behaviors significantly more often than lower level exploratory behaviors. Use of mastery behaviors…

Discusses the failure of students with learning disabilities to complete their homework assignments, lists criteria for planning assignments to motivate secondary students, and offers suggestions on procedures and outcomes for inviting students to participate in the assignment completion process. An Assignment Idea Chart is provided. (CR)

Nine teaching methods are described (conditioning, habit formation, lecture, audio-visual aids, seminar, case study, simulation games, conscientization, and affective learning) and each discussed with reference to the types of material, learners, and teachers to which it is best suited. (JT)

As a supplement to the available games for use in teaching, two writing games are presented, with suggestions for their use. They are recommended as a motivating device. A list of pertinent works on the subject is also provided. (IFS/WGA)

Synthesizes the conclusions drawn from a literature review on principles for motivating students to learn. Outlines numerous pointers for creating essential learning preconditions and for motivating, including maintaining high expectations, supplying extrinsic incentives, and capitalizing on students' intrinsic motivation. Provides strategies for…

Starting with H.W. Seliger's distinction between second language learning strategies (abstract cognitive functions used to acquire knowledge) and learning tactics (activities learner uses to acquire language), presents the most important tactics and comments on which learner characteristics and teaching methods take advantage of them. Tactics…

The Academic Team (A Team) program at Plano (Texas) Senior High School provides academic enrichment for talented students in grades 9-12. Outstanding A Team students are recognized with trophies and scholarships. The school district and the high school have found the program an excellent means of encouraging academic achievement. (MCG)

The order of presentation of topics is an important factor in the success of introductory psychology courses. Criteria for judging the efficacy of a course sequence should include use of students' entry level skills as a foundation, sections following each other coherently, and motivation for students to learn "hard" material. (CS)

Provides a checklist useful to teachers purchasing programs or wishing to create their own programs, suggesting that creating and evaluating programs on the precepts of goal setting, curiosity, and fantasy should ensure a good return on the software production/purchasing dollar. (MP)

Advocates use of students' interests to develop "learning starters" (anything from the students' world with which they can become involved) as a motivational strategy in open classrooms. Identifies and discusses three major categories of learning starters: large group presentations, small group interactions, and independent study. (JD)

A teacher at Chicago Vocational High School describes how he interested a group of urban high school students in American poetry. Emphasizes anticipating the reasons for student resistance and drawing on students' likes and interests. (FMW)

The article describes a data-based method by which teachers can differentiate motivational problems from learning problems and increase the academic performance of learners with mildly handicapping conditions. The method involves graphing work attempted and percentage correct, reinforcing work attempted, and analyzing performance data for…

Presents techniques from Writing Across the Curriculum adapted to the foreign language classroom. Strategies for encouraging students to write more effectively in the foreign language are described. The strategies include assigning relevant topics, treating writing as a process, and responding to and evaluating student writing in a more…

Language teachers are urged to explore, develop, and use the entire range of applications made possible by the computer and to realize that the computer can do almost anything but generate ideas. (MSE)

Considering the computer as a collaborator rather than a machine, it is encouraged that those in the humanities and the arts fields take advantage of the great potential that artificial intelligence can offer. Stresses that unless deliberately restricted, the computer is an inherently interdisciplinary medium, and capable of interacting with any…