This qualitative research studied regional motivation and learning of the basic education 9th graders in Thailand. Second topic was the school size and its possible effect on motivation. Furthermore, the data gave an opportunity to discuss, whether international research on motivation and learning was valid in Thai classrooms. The informants were…

The concept of "implementation fidelity" is broadly used to capture the extent to which an intervention is executed as intended by the designers of the intervention (Century, Rudnick, & Freeman, 2010; Huntley, 2005, McNaught, Tarr, & Sears, 2010, Munter, 2010). Though implementation fidelity instruments are often used to assess…

Teens are impatient and unsophisticated online researchers who are often limited by their poor reading skills. Because they are attracted to clean and simple Web interfaces, they often turn to Google--and now Wikipedia--to help meet their research needs. The Google Game, co-authored by this author, teaches kids that there is a well-thought-out…

Describes a study devised to determine what changes occur in young adults' attitudes toward computers as a result of a computer training program and whether attitudes of boys and girls differ significantly before or after a computer training program. Data indicate girls on average have decidedly less positive attitudes than boys. (MBR)

Given the importance of student engagement for healthy outcomes, research needs to investigate whether school-based assets promote student engagement beyond individual and family influences. Unfortunately, such research has been limited by a lack of valid instrumentation. After examining the psychometrics of the California Healthy Kids Survey…

The hypothesis that actual physical involvement (hands-on experience) with the work of a craft will influence the occupational goals of students was tested. The subjects were 2,921 ninth-grade students in Connecticut who were enrolled during 1974-1975 in sixteen area vocational-technical schools which offer Trade and Industrial occupational…

Examined whether previous classroom grades were as useful as standardized test scores for identifying students likely to fail the Ohio Ninth Grade Proficiency Test. Analyzes letter grades received by 99 freshmen attending a small, rural high school. Classroom teachers' own grades proved as useful as standardized scores. (14 references) (MLH)

The effects of cognitive and behavioral orienting activities and practice on student learning of cued and uncued information were examined in this study. The subjects were 54 grade 9 students (28 males and 26 females), who were classified as high or low ability based on the verbal intelligence estimate of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. These…

Describes study that investigated the effects of learner control and program control on the achievement and continuing motivation of high school students. The influence of the availability of computer-delivered instruction on student motivation was also examined, results are analyzed, and further research needs are suggested. (37 references)…

Describes a study of ninth-grade students that evaluated the ability of the Word Problem Solving Tutor, a cognitive tutoring system, to improve the abstract-reasoning component of word-problem solving. Compares combinations of traditional instruction, computer-assisted instruction, and the tutoring program and discusses implications for math…

This issue of the quarterly newsletter of the Center for Mental Health in Schools includes the following features and regular segments: (1) Complex Problems, Limited Solutions; (2) Research into Practice: Supporting Successful Transition to Ninth Grade; (3) Schools & MH Research; and (4) Response Form.

Describes a study of ninth graders that investigated the effects of learner and program control over content review in science-related computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Results of posttests, continuing motivation measures, and attitude questions are discussed; and future research is suggested. (35 references) (LRW)

The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Ball Aptitude Battery (BAB) on a high school freshman sample; (2) develop BAB norms for high school freshmen; (3) develop and evaluate four memory tests and a vocabulary test appropriate for freshmen; (4) examine level and structure differences for the BAB tests…

Compared development of postsecondary education plans of African American and White ninth graders, vs variables of the Hossler/Gallagher Three Phase Model of College Choice. Subjects were from 2,930 households with students attending 21 Indiana high schools. Results indicate the variables were more predictive for Whites than African Americans, and…