To determine how differences in isolating and elaborating on important text information influence learning and attitudes toward learning, two groups of fifth grade students were trained to apply the mechanics of precis writing and outlining to their social studies readings. After a pretest for content knowledge and an evaluation of their attitudes…

The motivational value of Virginia's Public Education Network (VA PEN), specifically the Thomas Jefferson On-line discussion group, is examined in this study. The instructional value of the network with respect to student motivation in fourth grade students of varied ability was gauged through observation of actual hands-on network experience,…

The first in a three year sequence, the study reported here investigated how knowledge of text structure affects reading comprehension and writing production. Specifically, the focus was on the development of an appropriate scaffold for teaching fifth and sixth grade students to use text structures effectively in comprehending social studies texts…