Suggestions for motivating gifted underachieving secondary students include independent study projects for credit, science fair projects, curriculum compacting, the use of adult mentors, and other approaches which emphasize building on student interests. (DB)

Self-access centres are sometimes portrayed as being at the forefront of pedagogical innovation. They are also said to be technology-rich language learning environments. In practice, however, the application of technology in a self-access environment has proven to be a challenge. This article focuses on 10 self-access centres that were found to be…

Several questions regarding the frequency and motivation of adult learning are examined in light of findings from several research studies. Focus is on highly intentional learning which is not part of formal course work: a series of time-consuming episodes in which the person's primary intention is to gain certain definite knowledge and skill.…

Contact Activity Packages (CAPS), self-contained units on a specific topic, provide the opportunity for structure as well as alternative activities for gifted students who prefer more freedom. CAPS include small-group techniques and reporting alternatives. (CL)

The activity book is designed to help children learn that writing messages and stories will help them see the value of learning to spell. The activity book's program is based on the ideas that accurate spelling contributes to the clarity of written messages; spelling accuracy shows attention to detail, sending a positive message to teachers and…

The rationale for providing media center projects for elementary gifted students is considered and an independent study project involving the student and the media specialist is described. Interaction between the student and media specialist is stressed and suggested projects for upper elementary students are listed. Guidelines for conducting…

The learning station process approach to curriculum enrichment in gifted education is considered. Key aspects of such an approach, including facilitator availability, spontaneity, flexibility, individualized and creative problem solving, and individual programing, are described. (CL)

This study explores how an online integrated learning environment (ILE) to cater for individual learning differences is used by teachers in two primary schools in Hong Kong. The findings reveal a positive change in both perception and pedagogy of the participants. The results indicate that scaffolding activities led to an enhanced ability to…

Principal preparation programs are designed to create and prepare effective school leaders. These programs pursue many pathways to achieve this goal. This study highlighted the significance of framing this pursuit around the Educational Leadership Council Standards (ELCC; Wilmore, 2002) and Malcolm Knowles' (1970) adult learning theory. In…

A practicum project was developed to provide self-directed learning opportunities for all 10 members of a kindergarten enrichment group. Specifically, the project was implemented over a period of 10 weeks to help students gain independent work habits, to improve their care of materials, and to raise their reading ability by one grade level. Ten…

This article is concerned with an environmental education program designed to allow students, grades five through eight, to investigate important ecological relationships. The course has two phases, the awareness phase whereby students construct the Environmental-Ecological Web, and the involvement phase whereby they use it to investigate local…

The concept of independent learning is discussed. Independent learning is defined as learning in which the learner, in conjunction with relevant others, can make the decisions necessary to meet his or her own learning needs. This must be regarded as a direction or goal to be pursued, not as an absolute standard and not as a set of identifiable…

This document contains a U.S. Navy Rate Training Manual and Nonresident Career Course which form a self-study package to teach the theoretical knowledge and mental skills needed by the Opticalman Third Class and Opticalman Second Class. (Opticalmen maintain, repair, and overhaul telescopic alidades, azimuth and bearing circles, binoculars,…

Learning centers can be developed in secondary school subject area classes to encourage independence and to help the teacher individualize instruction. (MKM)

Provides vignettes of self-directed discovery time in a preprimary classroom to see how to generate mathematically valuable experiences. (MKR)