Describes a study that examined the information-seeking behavior of undergraduate students searching print and electronic encyclopedias to determine how mental models are adapted for different types of media. Cognitive load is discussed; print and electronic systems are compared; differences among three electronic encyclopedias are described; and…

Presents a study to determine the effects of introducing methods students to the "learning cycle" technique on their ability to adapt science textbooks to the method and employ it in their teaching. Interviews of 24 randomly selected students out of 48 participants indicated that 75 percent used the approach while student teaching and…

Asserts that understanding the influences on art education takes an examination of research in related disciplines. Maintains that researchers are coming to appreciate the educational strategies grounded in artistic thinking and practice. Contends that contemporary art theory and practice contains most of the insights needed to inform the field.…

The theory and practice of A. Meshcheryakov on the education of blind-deaf children are reviewed. His work, based on a theory of mind rooted in the concept of human activity, is presently out of favor in the Soviet Union, but deserves further study. (SLD)

Research suggests that primary control increases as humans develop from infancy through middle age and then decreases in old age. To minimize losses, individuals rely on cognitively based secondary control processes in middle and old age. Literature on adult control processes is reviewed. (SLD)

Describes study that was conducted to determine whether the search process is the same for academic, public, and school library users. Cognitive models of information seeking are discussed, users' attitudes during the search process are described, the role mediators play is examined, and future research needs are suggested. (26 references) (LRW)

The working memory hypothesis that the development of span in children is related to increasing proficiency in the use of an articulatory loop was tested in two studies with 120 Canadian children in grades 5 and 6 and 11 and 12. Some support was found for the hypothesis. (SLD)

Describes interactive educational technology and discusses its use in the classroom. Asserts that research about the effectiveness of interactive technology ignores links to curriculum goals and educational objectives. Asserts that a human tutor may still be needed to extend the thinking of a group. (CFR)

Describes the use of practical rationality from the vantage point of a graduate student and an elementary teacher in an urban school. Discusses how using the approach led to revised policies regarding reading strategies and discipline. Contends that practical argument philosophy can be useful in practical classroom applications. (CFR)

This study used a 2-by-4 factorial design crossing the amount of information about snakes with the level of involvement students had with live specimens to evaluate the effects of an intensive environmental education experience on the attitudes of fifth- through eighth-grade students (n=502) toward wildlife. (Contains 24 references.) (MDH)

Examines contextual differences in student motivation and self-regulated learning in seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics, social studies, and English. Results revealed differences by subject area and gender in motivation and cognitive strategy use variables, but not in regulatory strategy use or academic performance; relations among these…

This study examined: (1) the effectiveness of integrating verbal elaboration (metaphors) and different visual presentation strategies (still and animated graphics) in learning biotechnology concepts; (2) whether the use of verbal elaboration with different visual presentation strategies facilitates cognitive processes; and (3) how students employ…

Describes an approach to needs and syllabus design that is illustrated by way of pedagogic elements comprising the learning environment of second-year Japanese college students, doctors in training, who read, discuss, and write in response to medical case studies accessed and mediated through the Internet. (Author/VWL)

Examines two sets of classrooms in Mexican preschools over a period of a year to see why one set of classes improved significantly in independent problem solving when compared with children in matching classes. Differences in two sets of data were explored with a method for investigating classroom talk that combines qualitative interpretation with…

Describes a physics course designed to engage preservice elementary teachers in the practices and discourses of science through activities that would later be used with children. Presents an account of preservice teachers' progress in inventing and testing models, working with empirical data, critically evaluating and using authoritative sources,…