A growing debate exists over the possibility that various types of external rewards may have negative effects on intrinsic motivation. Past research has produced conflicting results. The present study examines past research in light of behavioral principles and utilizes single-subject research methods to examine the potential effects of…

Four elements are essential for efficient, effective, and rewarding teaching of beginning reading. The first is the use of children's key vocabulary. Children are asked, in a prescribed fashion, what their very best word is of the moment. The teacher prints it in a prescribed fashion and uses it to help children acquire one-to-one correspondence…

As part of a series of manuals prepared for reading education workshops for parents and educators, this booklet focuses on developing a positive attitude toward reading. Divided into three sections, the booklet describes activities for parents to use with their children to motivate them to read. The first section describes seven activities for…

Contract learning is particularly suitable for teaching both the content and methodology of history in a college level, learner-centered, individualized format. Typically, a learning contract has three components. The first deals with the student's goals and objectives. The second component involves identification of the learning resources and…

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTION (R/I) UNITS WHICH WERE ORGANIZED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN FIVE WISCONSIN CITIES TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING AND TO FACILITATE SCHOOL-RELATED RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION. EACH UNIT IS COMPOSED OF A LEADER (TEACHER SPECIALIST), CERTIFIED TEACHERS, NONCERTIFIED AIDES, AND STUDENTS. THE…

ALTHOUGH CHILDREN'S NEEDS FOR WRITTEN EXPRESSION PROBABLY PARALLEL THOSE OF ADULTS, THE REASON BEHIND CHILDREN'S CHOICE OF WRITING OVER SPEAKING IN GIVEN INSTANCES IS OPEN TO CONJECTURE. MOREOVER, THE COMMON ASSUMPTION BY TEACHERS THAT CHILDREN CAN AND SHOULD WRITE ABOUT PERSONAL INTERESTS OUGHT TO BE TEMPERED BY THE IDEA THAT MANY INTERESTS ARE…

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…

The author reviews some of the research which he has conducted on the role of the parent in the language-learning situation. While most of this research has not dealt with English as a second language, it is suggested that the observed phenomenon is as relevant to the ESL program as to any other second-language situation. The author summarizes his…

Twenty infants, 12 weeks of age, were subjects in an experiment to test the effects of maternal behavior on their perceptual-cognitive development. Each mother and child were observed in a controlled naturalistic setting, every 10 seconds their various behaviors were recorded, and then the mother was interviewed. During an experimental session the…

In this paper, the author reviews the research done on the learning efforts of adults and presents some high-priority directions for the future. The paper first defines major learning efforts (learning projects) and describes some recent changes in the practice and focus of adult education. It then provides a general picture of the frequency of…

This paper reports the findings of a survey to determine the effects, if any, that experience in playgroups had upon children of varying social class backgrounds in differing areas within the United Kingdom. The project aimed at answering two major questions: (1) Did teachers perceive differences in first year infant school children that they…

Although over 100 million tests are administered each year and testing is a subject of increasing contention among students, faculty members remain diffident. A better understanding of the purpose and structure of evaluating mechanisms is a prerequisite for widespread improvement. Teachers must understand what factors play a part in measuring…

The proceedings consist of 11 papers grouped in two major categories: the context of adult learning (social significance and fact and fiction about adult learning) and the utilization of learning models for adult instruction. Contributors are Floyd B. Fischer, George L. Maddox, Rolf H. Monge, Eric F. Gardner, Arthur W. Combs, William J. Hoyer,…