The role of metacognition in fostering or inhibiting success in introductory quantitative college courses is examined. One teacher's efforts to build student confidence in an elementary statistics course for psychology are described, and student resistance to active learning methods is discussed. (MSE)

Contends that, to become a better critical thinker, one must not only develop expert thinking skills, but also become an expert at choosing the best skills for the particular situation. Reports on a study of critical thinking and metacognition among 65 college students. (CFR)

Maintains that the use of metacognitive learning strategies have been recurrent pedagogical tools for facilitating foreign language learning. Describes how new hypermedia and interactive video technology have broadened the scope of computer-assisted instruction. Calls for more research on this topic. (CFR)

Before student teaching, student teachers provided linguistic categories (personal constructs) for various science teaching activities and for their attitudes about teaching. After student teaching, subjects collaborated with researchers to analyze personal construct changes that occurred as they became socialized in the teacher role. (SV)

Describes two metacognitive tools, concept mapping and Vee diagraming, and reports on classroom research utilizing these tools in grade one through university instruction. Psychological and epistemological foundations of these tools are discussed, and student attitude changes after using these tools are reported. (64 references) (LRW)

Evaluation of a metacognitive model designed to promote cooperative instruction among 10 regular education and 10 special education preservice teachers found slight changes in attitudes and perceptions. The model included opportunities for cooperative prelesson planning and postlesson evaluations by prospective teachers, and actual delivery of…

Studied the language-learning beliefs of a group of students enrolled in an English for academic purposes course. Drew on results of an earlier study of language-learning beliefs that used factor analysis to identify six dimensions underlying learner responses to a questionnaire, and explored the relationship between each factor and autonomous…

Describes a simple exercise that demonstrates how content knowledge facilitates the rate of retrieval of domain-specific information. Music experts and novice students quickly name any seven words that relate to music. Reliably, the experts complete the task more quickly. Students rated this demonstration as both educational and interesting. (MJP)

Utilizes the Psychology As Science (PAS) questionnaire to examine student's perceptions. PAS consists of a series of statements about Psychology followed by a strongly agree/disagree option. Reveals an overwhelming acceptance of psychology as a science among students. Includes a statistical breakdown of PAS statements and suggestions for future…

A study analyzed the second-language essays of seven anglophone and one French-speaking Quebec university students enrolled in a literature course by using a cognitive-metacognitive framework developed for mathematical problem-solving and a think-aloud protocol. Results indicate the framework, with some adjustments, is a reliable tool for…

Applies aspects of James's (1950/1890) theory of the "stream of thought," to journal writing. Takes a case study approach to delineate individual differences by focusing on 15 students' writing processes. (Author/VWL)

The development of an inventory to measure self-regulated learning is reported. The first step involved the generation of an item pool based on a literature review. A pool of items was developed based on the five identified factors of metacognition, learning strategies, motivation, contextual sensitivity, and environmental utilization and control.…

Learning to use technology can be traumatic for adults. This study is qualitative and based on personal e-mail diaries written by adult learners. It identifies six stages adults may go through as they learn to use technology to communicate electronically. Initially, 30 teachers studying in a post-graduate university course were involved in a…

Writers often must summarize others' texts as part of their own work. To succeed at this, they must first read and understand new information and then transform that information to fulfill a specific purpose. Concept mapping, used as a visual organizing technique, can be an effective link between the two processes. In a preliminary study, students…

This report and a motivation seminar were prepared for teachers in the Social Sciences Department at Champlain Regional College (Quebec) to study motivational dispositions of students who either avoided registering for a course in Quantitative Methods or failed out in important numbers. Teachers' consensus was that students in general seemed to…