Using media in communication courses often is recommended; yet, almost no data exists regarding its efficacy in achieving course objectives. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of using media as the primary pedagogical technique in two accelerated interpersonal communication courses taught at a large state university.…

The literature abounds with information about peer tutoring and the benefits that it can bring to student learning. This case study sought to explore ways of using peer tutoring to enhance the learning experience of a group of higher education students in a multimedia course, who had access to learning resources in an online environment. It…

Investigates the psychological and neurobiological aspects of music learning that is described as a process of incrementally differentiating mental representations. Finds that the verbally trained subjects exhibited an increase over the left cortex whereas the musically trained showed an increase over the right and bilateral brain areas; the…

A study explored: (1) the possibility that imagination and imagery in young children can be developed by systematic practice; and (2) the extent to which the development of imagination and imagery affects other cognitive abilities, such as classification, seriation, and conservation. Concepts of imagery and operation schemes were derived from…

In an effort to assess the effectiveness of peer tutoring in reducing the frequency of disruptive behavior among students, a second grade class was taught with two alternating methods, direct instruction and peer tutoring. Nine types of disruptive behaviors were recorded during each of the two instructional treatments: out-of-seat behavior,…

A study was conducted to determine whether subject-related writing tasks assigned in college courses (1) increased the amounts and clarity of student learning, (2) led to improved student writing performance, and (3) changed levels of student apprehension about writing. Students enrolled in two sections of courses taught by each of four…

Evidence indicates that the anticipated Information Technology (IT) revolution in United Kingdom (UK) schools has not occurred. The ImpacT study evaluated the effect of IT on children's achievements in UK primary and secondary schools. The research revealed that IT can make significant contributions to teaching and learning, but a variety of…

Public relations instructors can begin to develop an appreciation of the social, political and economic (S-P-E) contexts on the part of their students by beginning to integrate this thinking into existing courses and curricula. Social contexts deal with cultural and subcultural beliefs, contacts within a community or organization, and frames of…

Statistical evaluation indicated the effectiveness of 10 software packages used in a 3-year project to improve the reading and language skills of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Native American students. The project was implemented in four Rapid City (South Dakota) schools in which 79% of the Lakota (Sioux) Indian students (grades 3-6) were found…

A study related the communication responsiveness of instructors to the affective and cognitive outcomes of students in basic speech communication courses. Specifically, the study investigated both the instructors' overall responsiveness and their responsiveness as climate makers. The communication responsiveness of instructors was measured by the…

Since self-concept is an excellent predictor of academic success, the author argues that improvement of student self-image should be a primary goal of educators. He maintains that the successful student has a relatively high opinion of himself, while the underachiever who evinces various behavior problems suffers from a low self-opinion. The…

A study was conducted to test the following four hypotheses: (1) more subject-area writing will produce better writing, (2) more subject-area writing will reduce writing apprehension, (3) the frequency and amount of learner-centered writing about a subject will increase learning of that subject, and (4) concepts students write about will be…

This paper considers changing practice in literacy teaching from a traditionally individualized approach where great emphasis was placed on adult child interaction to a more teacher-directed program. September 1998 saw the introduction of a National Literacy Strategy in England. For the first time the national government prescribed not only what…

Politicians, parents, and teachers are decrying the "character" crisis in U.S. schools. Violence is on the rise, dropout rates are increasing, and test scores are falling. People are looking for ways of enhancing values in school reform. What is missing in this quest for reform is the acknowledgment of the fact that key agents of…

This paper describes the introduction of a problem-based learning program in a new doctoral program at the University of Texas--Pan American in 1998. Students were assigned the problem of studying the implementation of a two-way bilingual education in their Educational Leadership Laboratory and making recommendations regarding the use of one or…