The concept of the density of a material has an important role in elementary and secondary school science curricula, but it is a difficult concept to grasp. This project explores why this should be and whether there are some simpler, more accessible notions which can serve as the basis for building a concept of density in students' minds during…

Due largely to outmigration of young people, the nonmetropolitan United States has a lower proportion of people in the prime working ages of 20-44 than do metropolitan areas. Discouraged workers and high levels of work-preventing disabilities have contributed to lower rates of nonmetropolitan labor force participation for each age group between 20…

One of the clear findings of recent research on the learning of science has been that students who have completed science courses commonly use conceptions held before instruction to interpret natural phenomena. This paper reports on a study of conceptual change in mechanics with particular concern with the nature of student awareness of any…

This paper briefly presents a history of comprehensive examinations in higher education in the United States, characteristics of comprehensive exams, and the use of such exams in assessing program quality. This paper then focuses on the experience of 11 program faculties at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), that developed and used exit…

The process through which the basic principles and concepts of computer programming language are acquired by children was investigated via the development and testing of a teaching unit for fourth and sixth grade students. This unit had three components: (1) basic programming without variables; (2) basic programming with variables; and (3)…

This paper indicates the need for women's studies ethics courses and the examination of student concepts of morality. It proposes the ethical study of social problems not usually considered in undergraduate classes and illustrates the importance of the study of historical perspectives and situational ethics in the teaching of complex contemporary…

Focusing on educational reform in China, this paper suggests policies that will lead to the optimal diffusion of educational innovations so as to enhance China's modernization efforts. The intention is to identify a theory of knowledge about the types of educational policies likely to be most beneficial in helping China achieve its educational…

This summary describes the results of a survey that served as a needs assessment, preceding the development of a curriculum for both Arab and Jewish elementary schools in Israel. The curriculum's goals were to educate children to create interethnic contacts on a basis of mutual equality and respect for each other and their cultures. Previous…

This paper presents the three year process used in developing a teacher evaluation model for the Fort Worth (Texas) Independent School District. Based on Dr. Richard Manatt's School Improvement Model for Teacher Performance Evaluation, the purposes of the model were to improve teaching skills and to enable valid and reliable judgements concerning…

Describes study that compared the attainment gains of Guyanan secondary school children in science and geography following two different learning regimes, i.e., systematically designed learning materials, and conventional teaching. Implications of the results for curriculum design and teacher training are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the National Science Foundation's program to establish Engineering Research Centers (ERCs). States that this effort has provided a new impetus to interdisciplinary research efforts on university campuses. Claims that the concept of bringing together industry, academia, and government is necessary in addressing engineering research and…

Describes a British study with undergraduate accountancy students which compared the quantitative and qualitative effects of three types of embedded tasks or questions--relational-semantic, transpose-semantic, and non-semantic--on learning outcomes. Variables investigated included mathematical background, recall, and comprehension. Relevance of…

Study of 68 school media centers in 11 states was conducted to field-test collection mapping as a technique and to amass enough data to enable individual schools to compare their collections with national pool of school collections. Collections of participating schools were also compared to nationally recognized selection lists. (CDD)

Describes a media literacy project that provided fifth graders with a hands-on approach to study of television form and nature of message transmission to improve their understanding of media-related concepts. Results of a media literacy test reveal course participants performed significantly better than the control group. (MBR)

Provides a personal perspective on the three-year Catholic-Jewish Colloquium through anecdotes of sharing and personal growth. Discusses this process in terms of a constant attempt to fit together the pieces of a puzzle. Includes a copy of a poem by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. (MJP)