The purpose of this quantitative pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was to examine the effect on student success rates in biology courses with laboratory components taken via distance education at a California community college. This study examined success rates for nine different courses, including 98 sections (2,299 students) taught only…

Taking tests enhances learning. But what happens when one cannot answer a test question--does an unsuccessful retrieval attempt impede future learning or enhance it? The authors examined this question using materials that ensured that retrieval attempts would be unsuccessful. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants were asked fictional…

IN THIS EXPERIMENT, 186 FRESHMAN ENGINEERING STUDENTS STUDIED ELEMENTARY PROBABILITY BY THESE INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS--(1) MULTIPLE CHOICE TEACHING MACHINES, (2) FREE-RESPONSE TEACHING MACHINES IN INDIVIDUAL BOOTHS AND IN CLASSROOMS, (3) PROGRAMED TEXTS REQUIRING OVERT RESPONSES AND GIVING CORRECT ANSWERS, (4) PROGRAMED TEXTS REQUIRING NO OVERT…

This policy brief draws on research and evaluations of efforts in Tennessee, California, and Wisconsin to describe different approaches to reducing class size in kindergarten through third grade. Tennessee implemented a randomized experiment to investigate the effectiveness of smaller classes; California used a statewide approach; and Wisconsin…

MODELS OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR'S COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE APPRAISAL OF STUDENT INFORMATION AND OF HIS OVERT VERBAL RESPONSES IN THE "EDUCATIONAL PLANNING INTERVIEW" WERE MADE WITH COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND COMPUTER-CONTROLLED EQUIPMENT. THE VERBALIZATIONS OF THE COUNSELOR WHILE REVIEWING THE RECORDS OF 20 NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS PRIOR TO…

Inquiry-based laboratories are acknowledged as the preferred method of instruction for development of research skills. Much has been written about changes in student performance associated with inquiry, but less is known about how students view the inquiry-based format or whether they perceive a benefit from this type of instruction. The Student…

IN THREE SUCCESSIVE SEMESTERS (SPRING 1965, FALL 1965, AND SPRING 1966) MERRITT COLLEGE ENTERING FRESHMEN WHOSE LOW TEST SCORES INDICATED PROBABLE LACK OF SUCCESS IN COLLEGE WORK WERE OFFERED BLOCK PROGRAMS OF CLASSES DESIGNED TO HELP THEM GAIN INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THEIR SELF IMAGE, THEIR VALUES, AND THEIR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.…

In a study to evaluate an approach for improving the critical thinking skills of middle school science students, 60 students were given the assignment of completing three guided laboratory activities and writing a report for each. In writing their reports, students were expected to identify the manipulated variable, identify the responding…