The 1978 Summer Reading Institute, which served 58 Washington, D.C., elementary school children, is described in this paper. Major characteristics of the program model are first identified, along with elements that were added to the model in the preplanning stage. Numerous aspects of the program are then described, including the make-up of the…

This symposium compares the third grade outcome profiles of Follow Through curricular models classified on the basis of their theoretical underpinnings as (1) behaviorally programed, (2) cognitive-discovery, or (3) open classroom. Outcome profiles are presented for academic tests, conceptual problem-solving, and selected affective measures, and…

Thirty children, 7.5 to 8.5 years, in two classrooms in a Catholic school trying to implement an informal curriculum were studied. The classrooms were not "exemplary"; The children had lower-middle-class origins. Each child was observed under free-choice conditions for approximately 80-90 minutes over a 3-month period. Two-minute narrative records…

The National Literacy Mission Authority has begun pilot testing an innovative open distance education program for newly literate individuals in 20 districts of India. Using open and distance education where literacy is at its infancy is feasible because newly literate persons can manage to read printed material and have the motivation to read and…

This paper examines five factors that should be considered in planning an open education program in an English classroom: (1) The physical layout of the room should be carefully planned to support the learning needs and characteristics of students. (2) Three types of learning activities should be provided: activities for the entire class, for…

Participatory decision-making strategies have been suggested as effective in groups with the task of solving unstructured problems or creating innovations. Concerned about evaluating children's affective growth in open classrooms, eight educators in a large metropolitan area agreed to meet regularly after school hours to develop an instrument to…

The studies in this monograph are designed to examine the implementation processes of an innovative instructional program and the relationship between the implementation process and the achievement of certain program goals in school settings. The monograph is a contribution to the technical aspects of designing and implementing innovative…

American responses to educational problems faced around the globe can serve as models for developing nations. The following characteristics of American education with particular relevance for education in developing nations have been organized as inputs, structures and strategies, and outputs. Inputs to the system of American education, defined in…

This study explored the functioning of exploratory and cautious children in open classrooms. Four areas of functioning were focused on: curiosity and exploration, learning and mastery, autonomous behavior, and interpersonal contacts. Thirty exploratory and 30 cautious children were selected through teacher ratings and exploratory tasks and…

Advanced level keyword and subject searching of library catalogs and CD-ROMs is a skill that requires an effective strategic approach. In this project developed at the University of Southern Queensland (Australia), video and computer assisted learning (CAL) materials were developed that would model the search process, provide experience to the…

This paper critically analyzes problems and issues related to learning with open, technology-based environments. Theoretical assumptions that underlie learning in this type of environment are clarified in the first section. The second section addresses imitations in adaptive capabilities of technology, including: the learner relies upon feedback…

Research findings demonstrate that the way the classroom environment is arranged can have important consequences on the attitudes, behavior, and achievement of students. The concept of "synomorphy" is used to examine some of the research literature available on classroom design. Synomorphy refers to the similarity of structure or shape…

The mathematics learning center at Tacoma Community College (Washington) has three programs: an independent-tutorial study system, a student tutorial system, and a basic arithmetic skills laboratory. Thirty independent-tutorial study mathematics courses, ranging from arithmetic to calculus, are available within the structure and control of the…

This paper discusses the growth of open education programs that were developed first in Britain and then in the United States, and it notes conflicts between the open education movement and demands for accountability that emerged in England and later in the United States. The paper then describes a study in which 23 teachers in England and 25…

This paper compares the realities of present-day community colleges with the assumptions generally made about them a decade ago, and concludes that the profile of the community college of 1968 no longer fits the institution of today. The concepts of comprehensiveness and accessibility laid out in the original state plans are now being questioned…