The ability to recognize equivalent algebraic expressions quickly and confidently is important for doing mathematics in an intelligent partnership with computer algebra. It is also a key aspect of algebraic expectation, the algebraic skill that parallels numeric estimation. The progress in this ability of 50 students learning mathematics with CAS…

This paper identifies and compares the level of career maturity as measured by the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) for students (N=221) in grades 9 and 12 in 1 suburban district in Nebraska. The participating school district was preparing for the implementation of a developmental, comprehensive, and competency-based guidance program. Specific…

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA; LISREL) was used to: (1) validate the Self Description Questionnaire III (SDQ III) subscales measuring general, school, English, and mathematics self-concepts for a sample of 898 (285 low track and 613 high track) students in grades 11 and 12, and (2) test the equivalency of the factor structure across academic…

Examining the status of the United States National Study of the International Evaluation of Educational Achievement Study of Written Composition (IEA-SWC), this report discusses the results of SWC, which attempted to assess, nationally and internationally, the quality of student writing in schools by collecting and evaluating student compositions.…

An understanding of the concepts of atoms and molecules is fundamental to the learning of chemistry. Any misconceptions and alternative conceptions related to these concepts which students harbor will impede much further learning. This paper identifies misconceptions related to the fundamental characteristics of atoms and molecules which Grade 12…

Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) and Super and Forrest's Career Development Inventory (CDI) are recommended in the their respective manuals for use with secondary school students regardless of academic ability. Scores on both instruments for 245 suburban high school seniors in this investigation were well below reported means.…

This study examined the conceptions of teacher evaluation criteria of 9th- and 12th-grade teachers and administrators. Four representative members of each group (n=12) were interviewed and asked to identify and define indicators of instructional practice based on the context of their allocated roles and experiences. It was hypothesized that…

This study explores students' conceptual thinking by examining the extent and complexity of their concept identification and organization in geography. The study investigated students' conceptual thinking through identification of salient geography concepts and construction of individual concept maps at three academic achievement and grade levels.…

For over 3 decades, American public secondary schools have become progressively larger. High school seniors once typically attended a school of 400 or fewer students; the majority of today's seniors graduate from a school with over 500 students. Although a 1964 Kansas study showed that small schools are superior to larger ones, James Conant's 1967…

Different areas and regions of the nation have characteristically different rural high school systems due to differences in socioeconomic status of the residents, racial or ethnic membership, and family background. Differences in staffing patterns, enrollment levels, and school budgets are also characteristics that help to differentiate rural and…

The taxonomy of cohesion devised by M. A. K. Halliday and R. Hasen was used to examine the kinds of cohesive ties used in argumentative prose written by 105 sixth, tenth, and twelfth grade students. In this way, the study sought to determine whether there were differences between grade levels in the kinds of ties used and in the numbers of…

A needs assessment survey developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) addressed two issues: the perceptions of educators, students and the general public regarding the importance of certain educational goals, and the extent to which these goals are being met. Student knowledge and skill goals dealing with communication,…

The nature of the listening and speaking instruments used for the Massachusetts assessment of those skills is discussed in this paper. Information concerning the design and administration of the assessment and data analysis is included. Copies of the instruments are appended. (FL)

A representative sample of study skills necessary for using maps, graphs and tables, and references was selected, and criterion-referenced tests assessing those skills were administered to sixth, ninth, and twelfth graders. Because the tests were criterion-referenced, no time limits were set and all students had ample opportunity to complete each…

Hauppauge High School has a number of alternatives to educate and motivate seniors. Among these are minicourses in business, industrial arts, and home economics; elective courses; half-day enrollment at the area vocational and technical school; after-school driver education; early graduation programs; work-study programs; and independent study and…