The Effectiveness of Teaching Mnemonics in the Study of the Solar System.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a mnemonic approach to teaching about the solar system to non-leveled Grade 9 students versus a traditional outline format. A mixture of 54 regular and special education students participated in the control group receiving facts about the solar system through lecture and transparencies and recorded the information into an outline format. The experimental group of heterogeneous students (N=47) received the same facts in lecture and recorded the notes into a mnemonic format. Findings indicate that the students receiving the mnemonic instruction enjoyed the change and would use it in the future. It is recommended that future studies be done on mnemonic strategies of instruction. (Contains 44 references.) (Author/DDR)