By altering the school schedule, one English school has made room at the end of the day for a special activities period during which eleven to fourteen year olds participate in extracurricular activities, private study, or special elective courses. Pupils' reactions to the scheme are noted. (SJL)

Highlights and criticizes changes in the traditional core curriculum during the 1960s and 1970s. Points to weaknesses in the current "return to basics" trend infiltrating core curricula. Calls for a clearer definition of undergraduate curriculum goals and the adoption of guidelines in order to eliminate the formlessness of the current system. (CAM)

In this 1979 replication of a 1974 survey, 234 high school principals provided information on perceived influences on curriculum, groups involved in curricular decision making, and use of 20 curricular arrangements and offerings, such as departmentalization, independent study, competencies, moral education, and unified studies. Five-year trends…

Reviews descriptions of secondary school remedial reading programs found in the ERIC database. Programs designed to increase student involvement in the learning process include an elective system, a combined art and reading program, and a television reading program. (MKM)

Study explored the motivations for students' choice of foreign languages. As long as foreign language study is elective in high schools, and as long as a variety of languages are offered, students' motivation will remain important for foreign language educators, especially in schools where various language programs compete with one another for…

Data in this survey supports the notion that the trend to eliminate physical education instruction in colleges and universities has ended. A reverse trend appears to be emerging. In addition, numerous changes have occurred in basic instruction in physical education course offerings over the years. (Author/IAH)

A University of Pittsburgh law professor developed an elective course that looks at how society's values are both expressed in literature and interpreted in law. Course topics include property ownership, racism, child and family rights, trust laws, the use of persuasive rhetoric, and violence. (MSE)

Presents results of a study using a switching regression model to correct for biases in assessing the gain in economic knowledge from high school economic courses. Explains that regressors used included geometry, civics, female, African-American, college, twelfth, and dummy variables. Reports substantial differences between students who elect…

Practical classes on protein expression and purification were given to undergraduate biology students enrolled in the elective course "Introduction to Genetic Engineering." The heterologous expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)* of "Aequorea victoria" is an interesting system for didactic purposes because it can be viewed easily during…

The authors examine their experiences of coteaching an intensive, interdisciplinary elective course for MBA students: Diversity in Management and Marketing. They address otherness, dialogue, energy, and change within this course and clarify issues that can arise when coteaching interdisciplinary courses. The authors list implications for…

The main purpose of this study is to identify the levels of the necessity and applicability of the courses offered in the Departments of Computer Education and Instructional Technologies based on the views of the fourth grade and graduated students. In the study descriptive research model was used. The population of the study were final-year and…

The selection of elective science courses during high school is believed to act as a filter to future participation in science. This study investigated the research hypothesis that science self-efficacy and gender may be related to ninth grade student intentions to take elective science courses during high school. In this study, the Test of…

Describes an elective class in which high school students work in a primary grade classroom helping students with learning problems. (RB)

A study examined the effects of increased academic requirements for high school graduation on enrollment trends in public secondary vocational education programs in Washington since 1983. Vocational directors of 211 school districts that had increased graduation requirements since 1983 were surveyed through questionnaires. Results indicated that…

In order to define long-term curriculum trends and to understand more fully the reasons for curriculum change and continuity, course lists for six Colorado Springs school districts were compared for the years 1961-62, 1970-71, and 1976-77. In addition, confidential questionnaires were distributed to 108 administrators and teachers in the six…