Characteristics of graduate teaching were identified, based on interviews with 18 graduate faculty members at the University of North Dakota (UND). Respondents identified the following essential characteristics of graduate education: the faculty member's knowledge of the subject, objectives of graduate-level programs, the teacher's role, graduate…

A content-analysis examined the discussion practices recommended in postprimary reading methods textbooks published in the United States before and after 1970. Fifteen textbooks were selected and 37 topics related to discussion were eventually grouped into three categories--(1) functions of textbooks, (2) functions of questions, and (3) roles of…

The "informal process" for writing reports, which incorporates the mechanics of textbook theory but emphasizes the composition process, may be more successful for teaching fifth graders how to write reports than the traditional approach. This process recommends a number of nontraditional teaching methods. Student choice of topic should…

This report discusses adolescent development by examining psychological research and theory and examining the process of adolescent development in the social context of secondary schools. The author functions from a base of four assumptions: (1) that the contours of adolescent experience can constrain or facilitate adult development, (2) that…

The effects of cooperative learning on students' perceptions of themselves and their roles in academic settings are explored. A group of 28 students from seven intermediate classrooms in an urban school system were selected to be videotaped while participating in a cooperative problem-solving lesson and were subsequently interviewed. The students…

This booklet is intended to help individuals teaching in extension programs understand the special needs of adult learners and use teaching techniques that have proven effective with adult learners. The first group of chapters deals with the importance of self-motivation to adult learning, the importance of taking the time to outline the goals of…

Environmental robustness is a highly dramatic, tension-producing climate characterizing the school organization; for example, strict discipline in a traditional school. To validate this theoretical construct with teachers, 264 elementary and secondary school teachers completed the Semantic Differential Robustness Scale and the School Survey. The…

This report presents findings from four studies of adolescent behavior in high schools. A basic assumption was that organization structure has strong effects on behavior. The authors concluded that the large comprehensive high school's organization structure with emphasis on teacher initiated action, routine batch processing, and reliance on…

This report, prepared by two students, deals with student and teacher reactions to a recently instituted program of flexible scheduling and independent study time at South Hills High School, Covina, California. Questionnaires were distributed to teachers and students during the first and second years of the program. Interpretation of the…

Student self-determination and awareness has increased, and educators are more frequently listening to students and offering courses that students view as important to their specific plans and goals. Language study should be appealing enough so that the student will buy it and insist that it be made available, and language study must be something…

This document summarizes the rights and responsibilities of students in the University of Kentucky community college system. Part I deals with rules and procedures governing non-academic relationships between students and the University. The discussion is organized into five articles which have been adopted by the University Board of Trustees and…

This report discusses the Columbia Classroom Environments Project Autonomy in Learning An Exploration of Pupils' and Teachers Roles in Different Classroom Environments to develop Criteria and Procedures for Evaluation in Project Follow Through. The report begins with a discussion of a set of matrices which combine all of the behavior code…

This three-chapter document concerns the problem of finding competent individuals to teach in the community. Chapter 1 describes an Education Professions Development Act (EPDA) project involving lay citizens, professional teachers, students, and educational authorities gathered together to pinpoint the necessities for competent teacher…

To develop communication skills among non-participating students, teachers must recognize, diagnose, and treat individual problems of the reticent child. Teachers need to convey the concept of an "open" classroom where all ideas are welcome, to develop questioning and "active listening," to encourage eye contact, to make use of…

This case study examines a racial confrontation in the high school of White Plains, New York. The study includes a chronology of the White Plains incident, a report of the community background, discussion of various hypotheses concerning the reasons for the incident (social class factors, youths testing new roles, and breakdown of authority),…