An analysis of 12,000 1982 high school graduates' transcripts, as part of a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, substantiates the National Commission on Excellence in Education's (NCEE) concern about students' insufficient coursework in the new basics: English, mathematics, science, social studies, and computer…

This music curriculum guide for the required music component of the fine arts curriculum in Alberta (Canada) covers concepts, skills, and attitudes, as well as enrichment and integration activities. Concepts are the intellectual framework of the music program and are divided into five elements: (1) rhythm, (2) melody, (3) harmony, (4) form, and…

The New Center for Learning (NCL) at East Texas State University (ETSU), now in its 13th year, offers an alternative way for students to satisfy most of the general education requirements at ETSU via an integrated interdisciplinary curriculum. For faculty, it offers a vehicle for expanding their knowledge, improving teaching techniques,…

This paper describes the problems and successes associated with the introduction of a compulsory computer literacy course to approximately 600 professional year students in the Faculty of Education Department at the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) during the fall 1984 and spring 1985 semesters. The events leading up to the introduction of…

To investigate the extent to which graduate level education students found a required educational research course helpful, a questionnaire elicited occupation information about the student and about when the course was taken, the degree pursued, and degree attained. Additionally, the questionnaire asked the extent to which the course was…

Part of a comprehensive state study, this report assesses the scope and content of Illinois instructional requirements and offers preliminary recommendations toward improving the public school instructional program. Sources of information include state regulations, interviews, historical documents, statistical data, and analysis of other states'…

The first phase of a study of the effects of new high school graduation requirements in Maryland was conducted in 1986. Interviews were conducted with 182 administrators, teachers, and students about their perspectives on new requirements instituted in 1985. Transcript records were analyzed for 249 students from 5 high schools. Interview data did…

Courses required in four doctoral-level administration specializations in higher education were identified. A questionnaire, which is appended, was mailed to each of the program directors listed in the 1984 Association for the Study of Higher Education Directory. Responses were received from 52 program directors. The four specializations were:…

At present, departments of communication do not have the same political status as other college departments, even though they provide more than their share of tuition revenue. To establish themselves as a viable political force, departments of communication must create an observable impact on the daily operating procedure of other academic…

Describes survey taken at Iowa State University to determine students' attitudes toward a required course in bibliographic instruction. A description of the course content is given, course evaluations are discussed, the questionnaire used in the survey is described, and the results are analyzed. (LRW)

Considers several challenges evolving in the field of foreign language instruction, including unity of foreign language teachers, teaching objectives, the importance of listening comprehension, compulsory foreign language education, language tests, speech skills, and curriculum. (CB)

The goal of the Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB) Making Middle Grades Work initiative is to increase the percentage of eighth-graders who perform at the proficient level in core academic subjects and who leave eighth grade ready for college-prep work in high school. This document contains a comprehensive improvement framework to aid in…

Inquiries have been made from time to time with reference to the opportunities open to Chinese students in American colleges and universities. Such inquiries have of late been urgently presented by representatives of the United States in the Chinese Empire, who have taken a deep interest in the progress and influence of American educational ideas…

Recently, there has been a large amount of research in the area of self-access language learning (SALL) showing that students around the world react favorably to SALL (Gardner and Miller, 1997; McDonough and Shaw, 1993; Richtcrich and Chanceril, 1980; Sheerin 1989; 1991). There have even been a few reports showing positive results with students in…

The design for teaching a required preservice teacher education course was changed to involve six instructors who alternated presenting course material to six groups of 30 students. In addition, cooperative learning was promoted by dividing students into subgroups of 5 who had equal responsibility for preparing an oral report. Includes student and…