What Helps Students Learn? 1997

Changes in education should be grounded in a knowledge base derived from research; such a base is now emerging. By analyzing the content of 179 handbook chapters and reviews, compiling 91 research syntheses, and surveying 61 educational researchers, the authors of this study compiled a knowledge base comprised of 11,000 statistical findings that shows consensus on the most significant influences on student learning.

The results of the research analysis were summarized using a 28-category conceptual framework based on models of schooling that posited influences on learning. To better understand which influences were most important, the 28 categories were grouped into six broad types of influences: student characteristics; classroom instruction and climate; home, peer, and community context; program design; school organization; and state and district characteristics. The 28 categories of the conceptual framework are listed in this Spotlight, along with a representative variable for each category.

go to the website:  http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=ED461694