Discusses the importance of laboratory experiments in which students were given a few guidelines and small groups had to design the experiments. Describes the old and new orders of laboratory projects and the effects of change. (CW)

The project-syllabus is an outgrowth of the individual contract system used in experiential education. It is a mass-produced contract containing experiential objectives, field resources to be tapped, a listing of topical inquiries, grading procedures, and a format for preparing reports. (Author/LBH)

The research student population of higher educational institutions continues to expand to include people from an ever-widening range of cultural and educational backgrounds. However, many research methods courses are still directed at the traditional student population. This book examines aspects of postgraduate research from a cross-cultural…

Suggests and lists sources of information on reading instruction that discuss the promotion and enrichment of the interactive learning process between children and their environment based on principles underlying the cognitive-field theory of learning. (MKM)

A guide for creating case studies is provided for teacher educators to share with students. Suggestions are offered for becoming a participant observer in a classroom. The appendix contains sample appropriate and inappropriate field notes. (SM)

Reports on two studies of student responses to increased emphasis on experiential activities in an undergraduate developmental psychology course. Finds that students in the experiential sections rated the value of and interest in the subject matter higher. (CFR)

A study of nontraditional college students' attitudes identified specific challenges faced in teaching intergenerational groups: discomfort of older students; different orientations toward the professor; older students' role as authorities; differing learning styles; hostility between age groups. Teaching strategies encouraging personal contact,…

Analysis of patient logbooks kept by 75 medical students in a family medicine clerkship provided a great deal of information about the nature of students' experience, changes taking place as the year progressed, the degree to which program objectives were being met, and differences between sites. (MSE)

A study investigating the effect of a freshman seminar on students' social and academic adjustment to college (the University of North Carolina (Charlotte) found that seminar participants (n=150) had higher grades and participated in more out-of-class contacts with faculty than did a matched group of non-seminar students. (Author/MSE)

A study of 343 African-American university freshmen showed interest in various career issues useful to advisors. Students most often reported attending college for job-related reasons, with males more likely than females to leave college to take a job. However, females were less sure of getting a job after graduation. A career advising model based…

This document reports the results of a study of the extent to which civics education and other factors contribute to student political knowledge. In particular, the research focused on how much the civics curriculum, student background, demographics, home environment, and individual student achievement affect 12th graders' awareness of government…

This project is a program of the Hood River Valley (Oregon) Opportunity School, a half-day alternative school attended by at-risk students. The project's objective is to teach fundamental academics through a practical experience in setting up and running a small business: the wholesale purchasing and retail mail-order sales of wildflower seeds.…

A guide for teachers of second language reading offers ideas for using authentic texts as instructional materials. The guide focuses on how to teach students to become strategic readers and use their background knowledge to enhance comprehension. Schema theory is proposed as a framework for approaching reading tasks, by providing relevant pre- and…

Drawing from autobiographical essays prepared by students enrolled in urban community college districts in eight states, this report profiles the lives of these students with particular focus on family background; educational objectives; obligations and problems related to work and home life; and career and educational plans and goals.…

Two overlapping nationwide studies, one funded by the Ford Foundation and the other by the U.S. Department of Education, provide information covering policies, procedures, and practices that enhance or impede the academic success of minority students in universities and community colleges. Topics include understanding the problem of minority…