In order to study for citizenship tests, amnesty students need to be able to read U.S. history material, although they usually have no background knowledge for it. According to schema theory, background knowledge is important for reading comprehension. Research has shown significant improvement in the reading comprehension of intermediate level…

Summaries of classroom research studies conducted in Finland on the development of educational aims are presented. Papers in this document deal with: (1) an overview of the purposes of the research project; (2) cognitive processes in classroom verbal interaction; (3) taxonomy of physical education; (4) objectives of religious education; (5)…

This study deals with a special phase of the education systems of five small nations that have contributed much to the advancement and civilization of mankind. These countries include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland. They are highly literate peoples accustomed to self-government and capable of carrying it on effectively, a…

Maintains the Holocaust is part of the national history curriculum for all 11-14 year olds in England and Wales. Examines ethical and pedagogical issues involved in teaching the subject, concern about promoting antisemitism, freedom of speech, and the right of parents to withdraw their children from this part of the curriculum. (CFR)

This volume argues that international/intercultural experiences are powerful vehicles for first-year college students to learn the perspectives and skills necessary to function interdependently in a rapidly changing, increasingly complicated world. The authors develop this thesis through an in-depth case study of efforts to provide such learning…

Examines one community's efforts to fundamentally alter a high school's structure, curriculum, and instructional practices to provide greater educational opportunities for all students. The program used heterogeneous grouping in tandem with curricular and pedagogical changes. Student surveys indicated that the program was moderately successful in…

A total of 122 state and 147 school district curriculum guides were obtained and analyzed for their coverage of specific subject areas in elementary and secondary schools. The dates of the guides ranged from 1961 to 1978. Analysis is provided of the state and district guides across all subject areas as well as within each subject area. The subject…

What does it mean to be good at history? At certain times during their formal education students seem to be required to adjust their understanding of what studying history entails. Alan Booth writes from the viewpoint of a university tutor. He has collated "student voice" on the experience of studying history at university and contrasted…

What would you expect the differences to be between Japan and England in how pupils learn history in the post-14 phase? Perhaps your guess would be: Japanese school students learn a lot of historical facts and focus upon their own identity and English school students talk a lot more in lessons and are more concerned with justifying opinions using…

This document contains six papers examining the theoretical and practical development of university adult continuing education (ACE) curricula in the late 1990s. The following are among the factors considered in "An Exploration of the Factors Affecting the Adult Continuing Education Curriculum" (Roseanne Benn): goals; cultural,…

A study was conducted by the Center for the Study of Community Colleges to determine the different emphases and program strengths within the humanities curricula at the 27 Washington State community colleges. Information contained in the Fall 1979 class schedules of the colleges was used to evaluate the following disciplines: history/appreciation…

Using data from a national follow-up study of freshmen (n=24,837), a study investigated how different types of courses and instructional techniques affect college students' self-reported growth in critical thinking. Results revealed that taking writing, interdisciplinary, history, science, women's studies, math, foreign language, and ethnic…

The Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) is dedicated to providing high school students opportunities to enroll in college-level courses while in high school. The advantages of such accelerated opportunities are both financial and educational. The AP Program is available internationally. As a result of its widespread availability, considerable effort…

A project to upgrade knowledge and skills of junior high school students in American history was conducted in four cities and counties in Virginia during 1977-78. The hypothesis was that students who received feedback from teachers regarding performance on an American history pre-test would perform better on a subsequent American history test.…

There has been increased interest in emphasizing Achievement Tests, as SAT II: Subject Tests, for use in admission and placement. In this report, data was obtained from a comprehensive database of categorized course grades for a large number and great variety of colleges, with student groups identified. For each student group, the percentage of…