Problem-based learning, process-oriented guided inquiry learning, and peer-led team learning are student-centered, active-learning pedagogies commonly used in science education. The characteristic features of each are compared and contrasted to enable new practitioners to decide which approach or combination of approaches will suit their…

Compares the Schools Reaching Out programs at two elementary schools in Roxbury (MA) and New York City with four similar projects elsewhere. Describes how an intervenor not involved with the ordinary operation of the school can help design, direct, motivate, and assess a school outreach program. (DM)

Workplace education curriculum models may be based on the functional context, ethnographic/student-centered, or participatory approach. Curricula based on the functional context approach focus on the abilities (functions) needed by workers at a specific worksite, and workers are unlikely to have much input in deciding what or how they will study.…

The study of 77 severely and 72 mildly mentally retarded and 101 control children, aged 9-10, in the Province of Kuopio, Finland, found that care of the severely retarded children took 6 times longer than that of the controls, while care of mildly retarded children took 2 times longer. (Author/JDD)

Mothers (N=202) of infants with Down syndrome, motor impairment, developmental delay, or no known disabilities were surveyed. Significant differences among the four groups were found on difficulty of caretaking and time devoted to caretaking; number of tasks with which fathers helped; and satisfaction with support from family, friends, and…

Defines, illustrates, and evaluates three approaches to home-school collaboration: School to Home Transmission, Interactive Learning; and Partnership for School Success. Discusses pitfalls to avoid. (DM)

To examine effects of ethnicity, SES, and residence on students' participation in formal clubs, activities, and sports, a survey was administered to 1,450 students at a county-wide consolidated high school in southern Appalachia. The purpose was to investigate the significance of Appalachian ethnicity as an explanation for behavior and to…

Examines two tournaments for "individual events," sponsored by national associations. Provides information to help students and coaches decide which tournament will best meet the needs of their forensics programs. ("Individual events" include public speaking--persuasive, expository, after-dinner--interpretation, rhetorical…

A survey of 567 graduates of 3 medical schools (Pennsylvania State University, University of Connecticut, and University of Massachusetts) showed medical school research involvement to be strongly associated with postgraduate research involvement. In residency specialty training, fellowship training, academic appointments, career practice choices,…

Several attempts by the author to improve his small group teaching sessions are described and their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Focus is on his preferred approach, which uses a pattern system to enable students to participate in the structuring of the discussion. (Author/JMD)

This paper studies the effect of participation in intercollegiate athletics on student-athlete grade point averages. The study was done to address critics of intercollegiate athletics who charged that participation in athletics hinders the academic performance of the student athlete, while coaches and student athletes themselves often empirically…

Discusses positive and negative aspects of teaching language use--the Communicative Approach. While the Communicative Approach is learner-centered and develops the students' communicative competence, the design and current tactics of this methodology are criticized as being "decontextualized" and "abstracted." (SL)

The economic efficiency of alternative types of intervention was investigated with language-impaired preschool children. Forty children were assigned to one of four groups: home-based intervention, center-based intervention, both center- and home-based intervention, and no treatment. The home-based program was more economically efficient based on…

Interviews with 117 mothers of public school students indicated that parents of students with disabilities were offered more opportunities to be involved, were more satisfied with their involvement, and felt more able to influence their children's education than parents of nonhandicapped students. No significant differences were related to…

Parents of 20 children with autism and 14 children with mental retardation, with comparable cognitive developmental levels, completed the Preschool Social Behavior Checklist. Results revealed that autistic children exhibited deficits in imaginative play, peer play, and imitation skills compared to the other group, and that parents are capable of…