Preventing Drug Use: Interactive Program to Improve Academic Skills

描述（由申请人提供）：成绩差和学业成绩下降预示着青少年吸毒和其他问题行为。然而，培养学术能力的项目可以成为全面有效预防吸毒工作的重要组成部分。该项目将制作一个交互式多媒体（IMM）程序（基于网络和CD-ROM），旨在向有风险的六年级至九年级学生教授基于证据的学习策略，以促进这些关键年份的学业成功。此外，还将制作一种互动式学习工具，帮助学生将这些策略整合到他们的日常作业、学习和考试准备中。学习策略将在四个互动教程模块中教授。这些模块将传达以下概念：(a)以可塑性为导向的学习心态，(b)作为学习技巧的检索练习，(c)促进长期记忆编码的深度处理，以及(d)暂时分配的学习时间以增强知识的保留。还将制作这四种教程的DVD节目，以确保那些没有电脑/互联网接入的学生可以获得这些内容。该计划进一步提供了一个学习工具，以进入和学习整合这些原则的个性化材料。此外，该综合项目还将包括针对教师和家长的补充项目。该项目的目标是通过采用有效的学习策略，促进学习和记忆课程材料，使表现不佳的学生在学业上取得进步。反过来，这将成为药物使用和其他问题行为方面的保护因素。在项目的第一阶段，将设计、构建两个教学模块（检索练习和深度处理）的教学单元以及一个具有各自特点的学习工具，并在随机试验中对80名有学业失败风险的八年级和九年级学生进行评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Poor grades and decreased performance on measures of academic achievement predict youth drug use and other problem behaviors. However, programs that foster academic competence can be an important component in comprehensive and effective drug use prevention efforts. This project will produce an interactive multimedia (IMM) program (Web-based and CD-ROM) designed to teach at-risk sixth through ninth grade students evidence-based learning strategies that promote academic success in these critical years. In addition, an interactive learning tool will be produced that will help students integrate these strategies into their daily routine of homework, studying, and test preparation. The learning strategies will be taught in four interactive tutorial modules. The modules will convey the concepts of: (a) a plasticity-oriented mindset toward learning, (b) retrieval practice as a learning technique, (c) deep processing to promote encoding in long term memory, and (d) temporally distributed study time to enhance retention of knowledge. A DVD program on these four tutorials will also be produced to ensure availability of this content to those students who do not have computer/Internet access. The program further provides a learning tool to enter and study personalized material that integrates these principles. In addition, the comprehensive program will include supplementary program components for teachers and parents. The goal of this project is to enable low performing students to improve academically by adopting efficient study strategies that promote learning and retention of course material. This, in turn, will serve as a protective factor with respect to drug use and other problem behavior. For Phase I of the project, the instructional units of two tutorial modules (retrieval practice and deep processing) and a learning tool with the respective features will be designed, built, and evaluated in a randomized trial with a sample of 80 students in grades 8 and 9, who are at-risk for academic failure. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project has the potential to support at risk youth by teaching evidence-based learning strategies that promote academic success which is known to be an important protective factor for substance abuse and other problem behavior.