Computer games are no longer just for entertainment; they have also become a useful instructional strategy for acquiring knowledge. When games are used for purposes other than strict entertainment they become serious games. The goal of serious games is to enable the player to learn a task, master a strategy or develop a skill. Serious games can be…

The philosophy known as Total Quality Management (TQM) is frequently presented as a way to change and improve public education. This issue of "Focus in Change" examines Deming's original 14 TQM points and their application to education. Myron Tribus lays out the core philosophy of the movement and discusses its possible application to…

A report is given of a three year project in which a system of classroom management designed to develop the ability of elementary school children to function at their maximum capacity in the classroom was implemented and tested. Great emphasis was placed on the use of motivational strategies, reinforcement techniques, involvement of students in…

The learning module described is for the use of special education or regular classroom elementary teachers who have children with attention problems. The primary focus of the module is upon a behavior modification approach to increase teacher skill in promoting attention in the exceptional child classroom. Included in the description of this…

The learning module described deals with motivation of students. The sample school subject covered is mathematics. The content of the module and the activities and resources needed for its use are described. A critique of the module and ordering information are included. (JD)

Several interactive videodisc lessons--Physics and Automobile Collisions, Energy Transformations Featuring the Bicycle, Studies in Motion, and Puzzle of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse--are discussed in terms of Malone's theory based on computer game analysis that challenge, curiosity, and fantasy are aspects of intrinsic motivation for…

This paper outlines the background of an early years training program being implemented in inner city and rural settings in the United Kingdom. The paper is based on 5 years of observations, interviews, meetings, and training initiatives with educators and parents. In their comments, educators and parents often attributed their lack of…

Discusses the basic concepts of andragogy, or the teaching of adults. Topics include differences between children and adults; characteristics of adult learners, including time perspective, motivation, being self-directed, and experienced in life skills; and effective program design for adults. (LRW)

Accelerated Schools are built on the strengths of school staff, students, parents, and communities with the goal of bringing at-risk students into the educational mainstream by the end of elementary school. During the 1990-91 school year, 53 schools are participating in the Accelerated Schools Program, including statewide networks in Missouri and…

Describes the procedures and results of a two-year project to improve the learning skills of first-year college students, focusing on aspects of students' daily lives and on effective study actions, strategies, and attitudes. Student achievement was higher than a comparative cohort, and differences were maintained into the second year. (DMM)

Reviews early pedagogical influences and recent ideas on Web-based instruction and applies them to Web-based library instruction, including selected exemplary sites. Discusses educational theories, learner motivation, organization of library modules, and interactivity for learning and assessment. Suggests that interactivity is necessary for active…

Explores the results obtained from using a computer network for real-time synchronous discussion in a course for students of English as a foreign language. Found that computer conferencing had noticeable effects on students' motivation for language learning. (Author/VWL)

The MotivAider[R] is a small electronic device that can be set to vibrate at different times to remind people to manage their behavior. The MotivAider[R] can help keep students focused on a task, reduce "nagging" from a teacher, and eliminate the need for constant reminders to the student to stay engaged. This article includes several examples of…

This paper proposes a model of learning dynamics and learning energy, one that analyzes learning systems scientifically. This model makes response to the learner action by means of some equations relating to learning dynamics, learning energy, learning speed, learning force, and learning acceleration, which is analogous to the notion of Newtonian…

The Departments of Mathematics and Statistics at Grand Valley State University are engaged in a project to address the mathematical preparation of all its majors, including prospective elementary and secondary mathematics teachers. In this article, we describe how the mathematics and mathematics education faculty in our mathematics department…