Reports from the National Commission on Excellence in Education, the Carnegie Commission, and recent survey responses from colleges and universities across the United States have verified suspicions about student inabilities to demonstrate acceptable levels of literacy skills. The first step toward achieving excellence is structuring, demanding,…

This journal issue addresses the issue of testing in the social studies classroom. The first article, "The Role of Testing" (Bragaw), focuses on the need for tests to reflect the objectives of the study completed. The varying functions of pop quizzes, weekly tests, and unit tests are explored. "Testing Thinking Processes" (Killoran, Zimmer, and…

Improvement of the lower division undergraduate program of the General College of the University of Minnesota is addressed. Attention is directed to the history of the program, the status of the project when the General College Assembly adopted its 1981 statement, and the nature of the work to be completed during the 1981-82 year. Reference is…

This issue of "Linkages" addresses the need for adult literacy programs to go beyond teaching basic academic skills to adults with learning disabilities to teaching skills in goal setting, problem solving, and self-advocacy that will assist adult learners in their transition into the workforce. Articles include: "Transition: Adult Literacy and…

This issue of "Basic Education" is devoted to the arts in education as a concern that should be addressed in a time of new priorities for the curriculum. Five articles and a book review are included. The opening article, "The State of the Arts in Education: Envisioning Active Participation By All" (Virginia Robinson),…

The Data Based Gymnasium Model, a systematic approach to physical education for the severely handicapped, is described in this newsletter issue. The model was developed through a cooperative effort between Oregon State University and the Teaching Research Infant and Child Center. The "Game, Exercise, and Leisure Sport Curriculum for the…

Articles on second language education include: "Foreign Languages in Schools" (Madelyn Holmes), an overview of the benefits of language instruction in elementary and secondary education; "Japanese across the Miles" (Elizabeth Reiken), describing a high school distance learning program in Japanese; "Teaching Spanish as a Community Service" (Rita A.…

The booklet presents goals and activities to help practitioners of nonformal education design workshops for developing nations. Major objectives are to help nonformal educational practitioners become more sensitive to the needs of learners and to develop techniques for dealing cooperatively with people in other cultures. The document is presented…

Documenting the processes and procedures, this report reviews phases of development, testing, and revision of 100 modules in a set of performance-based teacher education (PBTE) curricular materials. The first of two chapters discusses the need to develop a professional development program for vocational education teachers. A two-phase process is…