This article discusses the story of a middle school teacher and her reading class frustrations. She faces the reality that her class of 23 students hates reading, despite her enthusiasm and attempts to motivate them. However, she discovered that the literacy program she was using was not the way she had been taught in her preservice classes or the…

This paper describes an agenda for expanding interest and motivation among sixth-grade foreign language students in a middle-class suburban community located in northeastern Illinois. The problem was originally noted by the teaching staff/researchers who found students unable to focus and maintain attention during class. Administration of surveys…

In an effort to further explore the experience of understanding from the university perspective, this study examined how British students' understanding was refined and committed to memory during preparation for final examinations. After piloting an interviewing procedure, in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven students from psychology…

This study investigated variables associated with students' attitudes about second language use and second language learning. Subjects were 173 university students in foreign language classes. The questionnaire consisted of 27 Likert-type statements addressing such issues in language learning as performance anxiety, self-confidence, interest in…

Students who received the certificate of completion of level six at the Institute for Intensive English at Union County College in 1985-1988 were surveyed. The response rate for 310 surveys was 96%. The survey gathered information on the demographic characteristics and educational backgrounds of the students on entry to the institute, their main…

This work explores whether a "psychological price" is indicated in the affective domain of the weaker student in abilty-mixed settings; whether this price differs for various dimensions of this domain; and whether it is related to academic achievement. Existing research in the fields of ability grouping, streaming, curriculum tracking,…

A distinction is made in the meaning of schooling and learning, and characteristics that define lifelong learning and ideas that are not consistent with the concept of lifelong learning are presented. Characteristics of lifelong learners include being goal-directed, assuming increasing responsibility for being self-directed, possessing the skills…

Describes the development of a method of identifying motivational and educational attributes through student reports of what they like and what they perceive they are learning. Applications of the method to microcomputer software and traditional classroom activities are compared. (23 references) (MBR)

This paper summarizes work from a dissertation that examines the determinants of public school performance, focusing on the roles of incentives and parental involvement. The thesis presents theory and related empirics. In the theory, it analyzes the effects of competition on public school productivity, with and without parental involvement, as…

Specific student attitude problems in compulsory language courses are described and solutions to them are presented, including first-day pep talks, teacher approval and positive attitudes, use of interesting topics, props, provision for student creativity, skillful use of questioning, and use of novelty. (MSE)

A study investigated use of homework assignments in lieu of course examinations in a pharmacy course on over-the-counter drugs. Teachers read homework and commented on it without grading, and students predicted their grades based on the comments; an overall feedback sheet was also provided to students. Students felt this a good alternative to…

Studied discrepancies between Canadian first-graders' home and school literacy contexts regarding the contexts' potential to promote self-regulated approaches to reading and writing. Examined the extent to which differences were reflected in the children's attitudes toward and engagement in reading and writing at school. Found some discontinuity…

A model of personal and environmental influences on students' valuing of two deep-processing strategies for studying expository texts is described. Questionnaire data from 281 high school science students indicated that students' task orientation and perceptions about teacher expectations were central to students' attitudes. (TJH)

Examines the cognitive and affective impact of a multimedia editing task. The study examined how junior high school students used multimedia to teach science topics to themselves and others. The results showed that, although the technology had an important role in student activity, the task itself was the main motivational aspect. (Contains 34…

Investigates the possibility of conducting adult education courses based on the Accelerated Learning (A.L.) methodology and of evaluating its advantages and disadvantages vis a vis more traditional methods. It is not clear that the A.L. materials produce better results. Further study is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the entire A.L.…