Discusses reasons for an oral introduction to instructional films, types of oral introductions--i.e., substantive, attention-directing, anxiety-inducing, and advance organizers--and research related to these four areas. Recommendations for the use of the oral introduction are also offered. (RAO)

A short, intensive orientation program offered to a small group of students before the start of their first computer science course taught a simple programing language and provided pre-programing skills. The orientation was found to be beneficial, particularly for women, for both content and social orientation. (MSE)

Two experiments involving 139 college students investigated how text memory was influenced by organizational signaling devices. Signals frequently did not affect how much was recalled from the text, but they did systematically affect what was remembered, supporting a hypothesis that signals aid in construction of a topic structure representation.…

The purpose of this experimental study was to compare the effects of different types of computer-generated visuals (static versus animated) and advance organizers (descriptive versus question) in enhancing comprehension and retention of a content-based lesson for learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Additionally, the study investigated…

WebQuests are gaining popularity as teachers explore using the Internet for guided learning activities. A WebQuest involves students working on a task that is broken down into clearly defined steps. Students often work in groups to actively conduct the research. This article suggests a variety of methods for adapting WebQuests for students with…

Educable retarded (64) and nonretarded (64) subjects (mean age 15 years) heard two stories. After each story, performance was assessed on recall and comprehension. All Ss were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: (1)knowledge (Ss were told concepts critical to processing each story); (2)purpose statements (Ss were guided in organizing…

Multi-textbook college courses demand the use of a systematic expository textbook study technique. As explained in this article, E.S.P. (Enlighten/Study/Preview) is designed to increase speed and ensure accuracy in comprehension by providing the student with continuous feedback of his or her understanding of the material. (Author)

Investigates the impact of underlining and adjunct questioning in text recall for fifth grade students. Results suggest that for 10 year-old readers adjunct post questions and underlining may hinder performance. (RAO)

In three experiments, subjects listened to a taped lecture on the topic of exposure meters for 35-mm cameras and were tested after one, two, or three presentations. Results suggest that repetition produces both a quantitative increase in amount learned and a qualitative change in the reader's processing strategy. (Author/LMO)

Examines 44 published research studies involving advance organizers, and evaluates four specific predictions of assimilation theory. Analysis of the specific qualifications and specific predictions of assimilation theory suggests that assimilation theory is well supported by the results of advance organizer studies. (Author/RAO)

Whether preview and recall sentences affected readers' memory of text material in separate chapters was studied in seven experiments using a total of 130 undergraduate students. Hypotheses for the causes of the beneficial effects of preview signals and recall sentences on memory are postulated. (SLD)

Describes a study that examined the instructional effect varying the positions of advance organizers, practice exercises, and feedback in an instructional environment. The effect of varied advance organizer strategies and students' locus of control orientation on instructional and testing time were also investigated. (Author/LRW)

Responding to the call for more research on the practice of evaluation and its link to theory, this article uses the interviews conducted with exemplary evaluators or exemplars in the "American Journal of Evaluation" as cases to describe and analyze the practice of exemplary evaluators. Dimensions of analysis included context, purpose, advance…

This investigation examined whether advance organizers would help learning disabled (LD) adolescents to more efficiently process information on selected academic tasks. There were three phases: First, 51 LD and 63 normally achieving (NA) subjects participated in the development of a test to measure important and unimportant information. Second,…

The study examined the effects of an advance organizer on the learning and retention of facts and concepts obtained from a sound film by educable mentally retarded (N=30) and regular children (N=30) in a mainstreamed secondary public school class. Also examined was the interaction between the advance organizer and ability levels of the Ss. Results…