The elaboration theory of instruction: A model for sequencing and synthesizing instruction

This paper describes a novel instructional model for sequencing, syntheizing, and summarizing subject-matter content. The importance of such models is discussed, along with the need for a significant change in the role of subject-matter structure in instruction. A zoom-lens analogy is presented to facilitate an understanding of the elaboration model of instruction. Some basic concepts and principles upon which the model is based are described. The basic unvarying components of the elaboration model are described. And finally, some variations in the model for different kinds of goals are described. The elaboration model follows a general-to-detailed pattern of sequencing, as opposed to the hierarchically based sequences derived from Gagné-type task analyses.Many of the ideas described in this paper were developed under two projeets, one funded by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and the other by the Navy Personnel Research and Development Center in San Diego, California; however, the ideas expressed do not necessarily constitute the opinions of the funding institutions.     

Cost-effectiveness of audiovisual media in higher education

In general, economists are engaged in optimizing the ratio between benefits and costs. The so-called cost-effectiveness approach is oriented towards producing specified effects at the lowest costs. How this may be done for audiovisual media in higher education is shown in two steps. First, the function-identifying stage, then the cost-analysis stage. The cost-structures of seven methods of delivering instructional television are then compared. Finally, some reasons are given for why cost-effectiveness considerations are still rarely applied in educational decision-making. Structural measures to remedy this state of affairs are proposed.Detailed cost calculations which support the ideas put forward in this article were to have been included in an appendix: this can be obtained from the author.     

Pigeons see the Ponzo illusion

Three experiments were performed to address factors contributing to the Ponzo illusion. In Experiment 1, pigeons learned to peck at the longer of two bars in varying line contexts. When these lines converged, the birds had difficulty in learning several patterns in which a Ponzo illusion would reduce the perceived difference. In Experiment 2, the subjects chose one response if a stimulus bar was longer than a predetermined length and a second response for shorter bars. The subjects were more likely to choose “long” as the stimulus bar approached the apex of converging lines. These results suggested that pigeons experience the Ponzo illusion. In Experiment 3, the effects of contexts that did and did not form a texture gradient were compared. The magnitude of the illusion did not differ according to context lines. This result failed to support a perspective theory of the Ponzo illusion.     

Use of Live Supervision in Counselor Preparation

This study investigates the use of live supervision in counselor preparation programs. The perceived impact of live supervision on program management and student development are also considered.     

Differences of math anxiety groups based on two measurements,MASS and EEG

This article investigated how mathematic anxiety (MA) of Korean middle school students could be reduced by comparing analytically their cognitive neuroscience and questionnaire results. We developed a three-hour Complex Treatment Program (CTP) on quadratic functions for the study. In the summer of 2016, we collected data of the pre and post MA questionnaires by Mathematics Anxiety Scale for Students (MASS), the percent of correct answers (PCA) and reaction time (RT) by E-prime program, and also brain-imaging data of the event related potentials (ERP) by Electroencephalograph (EEG) using computer-based functional F-G model. The result indicated the CTP to be effective with the group with higher math anxiety and the group with higher achievement respectively. The MASS result was verified with the better performance of PCA on type G, which was measured by E-prime program. Some interesting patterns were revealed on brain-imaging data by EEG, indicating more brain activities with the MA groups.     

Gendered perceptions of typical engineers across specialties for engineering majors

Young women do not choose to be engineers nearly as often as young men, and they tend to cluster in particular specialties when they do. We examine these patterns and the role of gender schemas as applied to perceptions of typical engineers in understanding the choices that women make in terms of engineering specialties. We use Part 1 of two waves of survey data collected from first-year engineering students at a large Midwestern university in the fall of 2014. Respondents scored typical engineers on 60 items from the Bem Sex-Role Inventory [Bem, S. L. 1974. “The Measurement of Psychological Androgyny.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 42: 155–162]. Preliminary results show that women consider the typical engineer to be more masculine compared to the impressions gathered from men. Additionally, engineering gender schemas predict some specialty areas but not all, suggesting that gendered perceptions may not affect choice of specialty. Our results provide insight into the decisions that women make once entering engineering.