The Israel Ministry of Education and Culture (Jerusalem) has attempted to establish a feedback system to provide information about the functioning of the educational system in Israel. Feasibility of such a system and ways to ensure its effectiveness were studied through an assessment of the teaching of mathematics in grade 4. Data were collected…

Designed to introduce global perspectives in a sixth-grade class for learning disabled students, this program was designed to help students develop an understanding of Haitian culture and a sense of empathy for persons of Haitian background. The program contained seven strategies: film watching, game playing, food sampling, class discussions,…

Evaluation of a French and Spanish second language program in grades four through seven of a rural school system has begun with a formative evaluation for the first three years and will conclude with a one-year summative evaluation. The research questions focus on four concerns: (1) school personnel and parent perceptions of the program during its…

Three questions concerning the Binary Search Method (BSM) of computerized adaptive testing were studied: (1) whether it provided a reliable and valid estimation of examinee ability; (2) its effect on examinee attitudes toward computerized adaptive testing and conventional paper-and-pencil testing; and (3) the relationship between item response…

The results of a survey which studied the attitudes and characteristics of Catholic youth and their parents and then compared these with the attitudes and characteristics of non-Catholic youth are presented. A total of 1,130 students in grades 5-8 from 13 Catholic schools, 613 mothers, and 352 fathers completed survey questionnaires. The data…

Data were gathered, using pre and posttests and interviews, on the learning of individual students during a seven-week unit on a science topic (conservation) in a fourth grade classroom. Case studies of the learning experiences of each child, based on recordings and detailed observations of all class activities, were used to predict student…

The purpose of this study was to explore middle school students' perceptions of what factors facilitated their learning of science. Between 50 and 60 high-achieving middle school students were in residence on the University of South Florida campus for 12 consecutive days of study in the "World of Water" program. There were two sessions per summer…

The goal of the Home-School-Community Agents (HSCA) Program is to help disruptive pupils make a positive adjustment to those elements in their lives which interfere with their success in school. In 1982-83, 20 HSCA served 8 high schools and 12 middle schools in Columbus, Ohio. Each agent worked in depth with approximately 60 descriptive pupils and…

Selected student attitudinal variables which are felt to represent important educational outcomes especially relevant in integrated school environments are examined in this paper. The purpose of the investigators was to determine the antecedents of these variables in integrated intermediate and middle schools. In addition, an attempt is made to…

This curriculum unit is part of a larger curriculum developed around the broad theme of change. In this unit students will explore how a culture's myths and traditions reflect their environmental practices. As students actively explore environmental issues, their understandings of those issues change, which in turn fosters self-growth (i.e.,…

Describes a study that examined high-income and low-income middle schoolers' perceptions of teachers. Interviews indicated that social class was important in both groups' thinking. Low-income students were very attuned to teachers' attitudes toward them, and school was stressful for them as they were very much aware of their subordinate standing…

Discusses the development of a project-based approach to history instruction as a result of student dissatisfaction with a more traditional curriculum. Maintains that interested and motivated students take more responsibility for their learning. Presents project descriptions and provides recommendations for implementing the approach. (CFR)

Describes an integrated curriculum approach to world history using a "medieval" newspaper as a primary student project. Presents technical requirements, a newspaper outline, and recommendations for research and writing. Includes recommendations for student evaluation and teacher resources. (CFR)

For this study, middle-school teachers, students, and principals completed surveys on organizational climate, quality of life, and use of recommended middle-school practices. Student attitudes toward school life were only slightly affected by openness in faculty relationships; they were more affected by classroom organization and use of accepted…

Describes a study that compared the effects of cooperative and individual learning on fifth and sixth grade student performance and attitudes during interactive videodisc instruction for science. The use of heterogeneous ability groups is discussed, time on task is examined, and further research is suggested. (22 references) (LRW)