Student learning, factors enhancing

Student learning can be enhanced by several factors, including a demonstration of relevance to current research and improved methods of communicating the abstract concepts in physical chemistry. For instance, numerous examples in physical chemistry come from outdated experiments. Michelle Francl reports on her project to overcome this drawback by teaching students the fundamentals of physical chemistry using recent articles from the literature. 

We can draw a number of conclusions about the importance of both types of knowledge. First, although many students show a preference for one or the other type of knowledge, it seems evident that students learn more in the presence of both types of information than when only one or the other is employed. This seems to be the case even if the students cannot explicitly recall the additional information. One inference we can make is that it is important to introduce the abstract information very early in instruction so that it enhances what the students understand of the examples. A second inference is that the first example encountered by the student is very important and is likely to be remembered for a long time. Recall that in the first experiment, most of the example information that students related came from the initial example of the instruction. And in the second experiment in the absence of example instruction, many students nevertheless relied on the first example they encountered - which turned out to be the items of the identification task. Careful selection of the initial examples may turn out to be a critical factor in any instruction. 

However, as Dewey (1913) emphasised, practical activities are not objectives in themselves. We believe that the most essential factor in enhancing student learning... 

Vision To develop and implement a comprehensive array of school-based programs and services to support students, family, and community. Goals (1) To provide a full continuum of mental health promotion and intervention programs and services to include early identification and intervention, prevention, evaluation, and treatment. (2) To remove barriers to learning and improve the academic success of students. (3) To enhance strengths and protective factors in students, families, and the school community. (4) To promote the quality of life and wellness in military families. (5) To provide training, staff development, and research opportunities to improve children s mental health and education. 

---