The idea of potential and usable processing space is explored, and consequent teaching strategies are discussed. Simultaneous studies of the effect of working memory space and field-dependence on science performance at secondary and tertiary levels are reviewed. How students filter out "signal" from "noise" during various…

Presents study results determining whether student achievement differs according to whether taught by the reflective teaching method or the lecture approach. Describes a research series involving a pretest, teaching, and posttest. Reports little difference on pretest scores but significantly higher posttest scores for the subjects taught by the…

Reviews the literature on student notetaking and review behaviors and the effects of these behaviors on academic achievement. Ten factors that may constrain notetaking and review are presented, and their implications for improving study skills and conducting further research are discussed. (Author/CLB)

The study of science involves learning the processes of science as well as its content. The recent revival of interest in developing thinking skills has encouraged added emphasis on process skills instruction. A science teacher wanting to add instruction of process skills is faced with several problems: (1) texts and lab manuals are not likely to…

Reports the results of five contrasts between small-group learning and a more teacher-centered instructional style employed in junior high, high school, and college mathematics classes. In no case did the small-group class perform more poorly than the one led by a teacher; in one case, measuring long-term retention, the small-group class performed…

Examines two instructional strategies, the traditional and learning cycle approaches, and compares them with regard to the variables of sequence, format, and necessity. Concludes that students exposed to the laboratory and discussion type had higher test scores than those in the lecture or reading groups. (Author/RT)