The Educator (Volume 45) - IAMPETH

Perceptual Learning Test
Each small letter of the alphabet
was divided into single strokes and
each stroke received a number. Because
some strokes are repeated in
letters, there was only a total of
thirty strokes. A list of each letter
containing each individual stroke was
also written out.
A large cardboard covered with
standard penmanship paper was divided
into thirty divisions five line
spaces high and three inches long.
On the left half of each lined rectangular
area the letters containing
one stroke were listed. On the right
half was written the particular stroke.
Each letter was written in black with
the exception of the one stroke mutual
to each. It was shown in red.
The Educator 13
The lone stroke appeared in a duplicate
size and line placement. These
thirty areas were placed in rows of
six across and five down.
The right half of the area, or each
area containing each of the thirty
separate strokes, was duplicated and
cut out. They were so made to be
available for matching with those on
the master card. In the test it was
required that the subject select these
thirty cards and place them on the
correct strokes, appearing beside the
list of letters containing the strokes
individually. Each card and its duplicate
were numbered.
The test consists of ten trials of
matching separate cards and placing
them on the proper ones on the large
card. One subject could use a stop
watch, timing his partner. Two
scores become available (1) the time
score in seconds and (2) the error
in card placements. Altogether only
a few minutes are required for the
test.
A second test was made. It consisted
of a similar set-up with a combination
of two joined strokes in the
small letters, i. e. strokes 1 and 2,
2 and 3, and 3 and 4 appear in the
small letter "b".
Perceptual learning occurs in the
taking of the matching tests. Actual
values show up in the interest displayed
by the pupils and in the extremely
rapid improvement shown in
handwriting ability. This type of
gain is especially noticeable in junior
high school classes where handwriting
receives remedial treatment.
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By Maude A. Vandiver, teacher at Morgan School, Montrose, Colorado.
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