This collection contains three studies of the relationship between incentives, learning, and employability. The first study, "Incentives, Learning, and Employability," by John Bishop, models students' choices concerning what to learn and how much effort to spend learning it in terms of the outcome of a comparison of benefits and expected costs and…

A study investigated Finnish high school students' second language learning motivation, attitudes, self-concepts, inhibitions, and selected personality traits. The study attempted to learn more about the nature, content, and functions of the "affective filter" in foreign language learning. A variety of relationships between these factors…

A critique is offered of three papers on the student's role in learning. The first, by Robert Sternberg and Richard Wagner, makes connections between cognitive processing of information and the metacognitive processing of one's own approach to a situation and the information contained therein. The second, by Deborah Stipek, implies that…

A Dallas County consortium study investigated use of the Control Data Basic Skills Learning System (computer-based education) as a means for providing a comprehensive, high quality program of individualized instruction in reading, mathematics, and language arts. It also examined issues related to the motivation of students whose training was…

Improving student motivation and self-concept is now an important concern of principals. Positive results arise from such diverse theories as Skinner's positive reinforcement techniques or Maslow's self-actualization model. Although evidence on cause and effect of motivation is scarce, it does seem likely that motivation is related to student…

An analysis of criticism leveled against student grading is presented, and a rebuttal is offered. Twenty-two criticisms of grades are divided into four categories; that grades are meaningless, unimportant, unnecessary, and harmful. In response to the criticism, it is pointed out that grading tends to motivate student achievement, provides rewards…

Montreal high school students studying French as a second language completed a battery of tests including measures of linguistic aptitude, verbal intelligence, and various attitudinal and motivational characteristics. Analysis of the intercorrelations of these tests yielded two orthogonal factors equally related to ratings of achievement in…

The contents of this document, concerning the demonstration of a linkage between monetary incentives and academic achievement motivation and the utilization of this knowledge in educational programs, are organized in three sections. The first section is a report of an experimental demonstration of "the effect of monetary incentives on test…

Describes the evolution of Howe's teaching style from a reliance on textbooks and lectures to the active involvement of students in the learning process. Stresses the importance of teaching transferable skills, such as writing and test-taking, and building an active learning environment which focuses on process as well as content. (GEA)

Learning-disabled sixth through eighth grade students (n=25) received vocabulary instruction involving matching negation prefixes to root words. The students used an instructional computer game or a computer program that operated identically but without game features. Both programs produced equal gains in task skill, but the game produced higher…

A causal model of a cycle of student performance is proposed. Two investigations were conducted in Australia, studying individuals and classrooms. Attitudes toward, and achievement in, mathematics and science were measured. The roles of attentiveness and teachers' use of time were also studied. (GDC)

Self-regulation consists of the metacognitive processes, behavioral skills, and associated motivational beliefs that underlie youths growing self-confidence and personal resourcefulness in acquiring the skills needed for adulthood. This chapter discusses the role of school organization in the attainment of self-regulation in terms of four levels…

Anticipation of academic, professional, and career-related benefits and opportunities for friendship and belonging lead many young people to become members of career and technical education (CTE) student organizations. Because all CTE student organizations share similar goals for membership and participation, outcomes of a Purdue University study…

Presents the results of a study that assessed the influence of individual and contextual factors on adolescent girls' interest in school physical education. Suggests that classroom environment is more important than individual goals in influencing pupil interest. Results are discussed in the context of theoretical propositions of goal perspectives…

Profiles new CD-ROM technologies for middle schoolers, in the fields of mathematics and science, aimed at motivating and holding student interest. Describes three titles (Math Heads, Sunny Math, and The Ultimate 3-D Skeleton) in terms of manufacturer, capabilities, platform, and price. Several additional titles are described more briefly. (SD)