Supervised Study

Author

• Alice L. Priestley

Date of Award

7-1929

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Division of Education and Counseling

Keywords

Supervised Study, Instructional Methods, Study Habits, Educational Psychology, Recitation Method, Dalton Plan, Batavia Plan, Classroom Organization, Teaching Methods, Independent Learning

Abstract

This thesis, submitted to Xavier University in 1929, examines supervised study as an instructional method and argues for its superiority over traditional recitation-based teaching. Priestley traces the historical development of the teaching function through three stages, from the teacher as disciplinarian, through an emphasis on psychologizing instruction, to the contemporary movement toward directing and supervising pupils' independent learning activities.

The thesis reviews a series of experimental studies comparing supervised study to conventional recitation and home study methods, including investigations by Reavis, Richard, Hill-Quest, Breslich, Minnich, and Brown and Worthington, conducted across subjects including algebra, plane geometry, arithmetic, and poetry at the high school level. These studies are presented as consistently showing that supervised study groups achieved higher test averages, fewer failures, and greater gains in working independently compared to control groups. The thesis then outlines practical guidance for conducting a supervised study period, including teacher preparation, classroom organization across elementary, rural, and high school settings, and specific plans such as the Dalton Plan and the Batavia Plan. It also identifies common difficulties pupils encounter during study, including inability to locate or judge source material, difficulty organizing information, and trouble drawing inferences, and offers corresponding guidance for teachers on addressing these difficulties without over-assisting students. The thesis concludes that supervised study benefits all students, particularly those from homes with poor conditions for studying, and that its central aim is to train pupils toward independent, organized thinking.

Note: No original abstract was included; this abstract is provided by the XULA Digital Commons editors.

Recommended Citation

Priestley, Alice L., "Supervised Study" (1929). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 163.
https://digitalcommons.xula.edu/etd/163