This research study was designed to assess preservice elementary education teachers' knowledge of U.S. history. The "High School Subject Tests: American History," developed by Scott, Foresman and Company for use with high school students, was administered to 139 elementary education majors enrolled in required undergraduate social studies methods…

Comparison between the results of a 1977 and a 1982 census of secondary school course offerings in Illinois indicated that in high schools the proportion of enrollment in all social studies combined decreased from 1977 to 1982 but the proportion of enrollment in the traditional courses remained relatively stable. Census data were collected from…

This study examined teaching practices in four suburban high school advanced placement (AP) American History classrooms using case study methodology. Results indicated that more effective teachers distributed and asked more questions, had higher engagement rates, had greater feedback on assignments, and had greater participation and success rates.…

Investigates how secondary history teachers' conceptions of history (typology) influences classroom practices. Interviews five teachers, representing five typologies, and their students, and observes classroom techniques. Suggests impact of teacher conceptions varies, finding only one of five typologies profoundly influencing students. Sees…

This study investigated two questions: (1) will student selection of instructional materials motivate them to learn and (2) are female students reacting to discrimination in textbooks? Tested an instructional method that included discussion, brainstorming, and keeping journals and logs. Concludes that students' performance improves when they see a…

Contends that student motivation is a major issue for all teachers but is of particular concern for middle school social studies teachers. Reports on an interview with 18 middle school teachers and 60 middle school students on the effectiveness of strategies designed to increase motivation. (CFR)

This research applied evolving conceptions of learning to examine how to represent and evaluate students' and experts' cognitive structures. High school history students completed several tasks. Direct comparisons of the quality of student maps with expert maps showed that experts' concept maps could be used to score students' concept maps…

The paper offers ideas for assessing and teaching English language learners (ELL)--English as Second Language (ESL, 2L, CLD) learners--through dynamic evaluation using children's literature. Given the increased demands within the general education classroom, the teacher needs ways to combine assessment procedures with effective instructional…

This is a collection of papers reporting student research projects at the Annual Research Forum, Department of Education, Wake Forest University (North Carolina). They include: "Student Interest in Studying World History in Relation to Current Events" (Conan Arthur); "Perceptions of High School Student Athletes and Athletics"…

This bulletin reports the findings from a 1987 nationwide school survey of arts and humanities instruction conducted by Westat, Inc. for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities. (The data are representative of approximately 15,250 operating school districts in the United States, 75% of which have…

Approximately 1820 high school seniors from 14 schools in Georgia were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward five areas of the social studies: economics, geography, government, history, and psychology/sociology. Results indicated that economics was selected as the least-liked subject area more often than any other social studies area. In…

The factors that influence the poor performance level of secondary history students in the Kenya Certificate of Education Exam were examined. Six schools were randomly selected to participate in the study. A sample of 86 students and 15 teachers from forms III and IV history classes completed attitude questionnaires. Results include the following.…

In 1975, the departments of English, history, modern foreign languages, and philosophy at Frostburg State College (Maryland) cooperatively proposed a master of arts program in modern studies. A survey was conducted to assess reactions to the program proposal. Three populations were surveyed: (1) undergraduate English, history, and foreign language…

Maintains that the impact of the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union on U.S. politics and society during the post-World War II era can hardly be overstated. Reviews 18 college history survey textbooks on their interpretation of the origins of the Cold War. (CFR)

Asserts that a survey of historians indicates a divided profession in the United States and South Africa. Contends that history designed to instill national consciousness and identity risks becoming didactic and teleological. (CFR)