Technical high school students in Japan were given a test of consumer mathematics and items from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Expectations of students' scores were predicted by their teachers and by corporate employers. Scores were quite high and were higher than comparative NAEP data. (GDC)

Discusses the contributions that consumer and homemaking education make towards improving students' basic skills. These skills include verbal (discussing consumer issues, family relations, child development); reading (product labels, magazine articles, newspapers); writing (reports, notes, term papers); mathematics (budgets, recipe ingredients,…

Indiana's K-12 consumer and economic education program was rated very high by participating teachers. However, the lack of program effectiveness beyond just in-service training is reflected by the fact that no significant differences were found between the economic concepts that participanting and nonparticipating economics teachers reported…

Learning activities to help encourage students' consumer awareness and develop their consumer skills are suggested. Objectives include teaching students to: (1) distinguish between wants and needs; (2) understand advertising; and (3) read labels and compare prices. Other information sources and reading materials for children are listed. (PP)

Provides procedural details of Linear Programing, developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to devise a dietary guide for consumers that minimizes food costs without sacrificing nutritional quality. Compares Linear Programming with the Thrifty Food Plan, which has been a basis for allocating coupons under the Food Stamp Program. (CS)

A randomized pre-posttest control group design was used with 34 university students in consumer economics to investigate aptitude-treatment interaction under a computer assisted instruction (CAI) and text mode of programmed instruction. Findings indicated a relative advantage of CAI for the lower aptitude student. Sixteen references are listed.…

Examines the Tenant Education Program in a New Jersey subsidized housing complex. Educational programs cover money management, home maintenance, fire safety, security, consumer education, health programs, and other topics. Overall success of this program is credited to the emphasis placed on teaching problem-solving techniques to tenants. (CT)

Recommends that teachers use real life opportunities and experiences to design experiments to motivate middle school science students. Focuses on the use of consumer testing to engage students in using the scientific method. (DDR)

Provides an overview of six directories and guides for identifying a variety of CD-ROM based products. Evaluates information provided, navigation, searching, presentation, and other features; and provides contact information and prices for ordering. (PEN)

Proposes that chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and arithmetic form a base from which students can focus on consumer issues. Describes a hands-on science program that stresses real world topics and employs portfolios which consist of a term paper, a student designed experiment, lab reports, and tests. (DDR)

The Joint Action Committee of Organizations of and Serving the Visually Handicapped is a coalition of 24 California consumer, parent, and professional organizations; agencies; and product distributors. This article highlights coalition accomplishments in the areas of information dissemination, public policy influence, and public education and…

Colleges and universities can work for environmental protection in a variety of ways, through conscious consumer choices, communication of environmental values through educational programs, participation in environmental groups, recycling, scrutiny of food service practices, campus special projects, and working with other campus services to…

The articles in this special section discuss emerging national standards and chart future developments for secondary curricula in health, physical education, arts, music, family and consumer sciences, technology, science education, business education, and social studies. Emphasis is on reform efforts, knowledge development, curriculum frameworks,…

A time of upheaval and innovation, the American Colonial Period (1600-1775) was marked by New World settlers' struggles to adapt to a life that lacked anything familiar or prefabricated. The period provides a rich opportunity to study the contributions of the colonists across multiple disciplines. In the fall of 2003, a team of eighth-grade…

The need for a more efficient use of energy is discussed. Described are energy-conservation strategies and technologies for increasing consumption efficiency. Social obstacles that potentially delay adoption of improvements are considered. (RT)