Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce, describe, and document the methods involved in the preparation of a mindset intervention built into a freshmen development course, and established after years of longitudinal research, that is designed to have a positive impact on the outlook, achievement, and persistence of first generation…

In this article, Bryan Goodwin reflects on a Johns Hopkins University study from 1966 that at that time sent shock waves across America. The report's sober conclusion was that: "Schools provide no opportunity at all" to bring impoverished and minority students up to the starting line. Rather, schools allow them to "fall farther…

Many theories have been offered to explain why people are impoverished. This article by Karen Seccombe uses the case study of "Dee," a newly single mother, to explore four of the most common: individualism, social structuralism, the culture of poverty, and fatalism. She concludes that poverty is a highly complex phenomenon, and it is likely that…

Implementing a behavior management model that focuses on student self-determination and self-advocacy can improve students' understanding of themselves and their strengths and weaknesses as well as support their ability to formulate strategies and goals for behavior improvement. Such a model promotes student buy-in and provides the student with…

The love of learning--that intrinsic desire to gain knowledge and insight into new subjects--was once its own reward. That was altered decades ago when parents started using the proverbial "stick and carrot" to motivate their children to do well in school, or even just show up. Today, educators across the country have taken hold of this…

When students investigate science, they model, imitate, and perform science much as scientists do. Learning science in this way is best, according to the locus of control research. Based on this research, students need to develop an internal belief that they can control science outcomes and become a part of science through their own hands-on…

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." This is a well-known adage with which many are familiar. Children learn it from an early age as they begin to walk, ride their bike, or tie their shoes. Adults repeatedly encourage children by saying, "You can do it! Give it a try! Just try harder!" However, when trying harder…

In this article, the author shares the views of his undergraduate students regarding elder female agency and their answers to the question: "Do old ladies make world history?" Because his undergraduate students mostly view the past in terms of the Great Man theory of history, which holds that those who make history are necessarily great,…

The Human Resources School Career Education program (designed to improve and maintain positive self-concept, build decision making skills, and broaden career awareness) was evaluated with 230 K through 12 physically disabled students from the HRS and two comparison groups. (SB)

Assesses the value of a counselor-led training program for teachers and investigates its effects on classroom environment, student behavior, student achievement and attendance, and locus of control. Results indicate a significant improvement in overall student achievement and in internalized locus of control in the first and fifth grades. (RJM)

A study was undertaken to determine how individuals at community colleges made sense of organizational change, specifically with respect to the identification of external and internal forces of change. Interviews were conducted with over 200 administrators, board members, faculty, staff, and students at 6 community colleges in the United States…

Changes in health behaviors as well as changes in self-concept are often the primary goals of health education. Both the Piers-Harris and the Parcel-Meyer Health Locus of Control (HLC) scales are reliable measures of the affective impact of a health education program. (CJ)

Discusses the need for instructional designers, trainers, and educators to have cultural sensitivity, or a cross-cultural perspective/awareness. Considers learning environment, classroom rituals, intelligence assessment instruments, cultural background, teacher-student relationship, nonverbal behavior, discipline, locus of control, rewards, and…

College students bring a variety of perceptions to the classroom about what it takes to succeed in a discipline. Attributional retraining, a therapeutic technique for modifying maladaptive perceptions into more adaptive ones, can enhance student motivation and academic achievement. The technique is most effective with students who are at high risk…

The goal of the Conecuh County (Alabama) project was to successfully implement into its curriculum an Experience-Based Career Education (EBCE) program based on the model developed by Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, which integrates academic requirements and work experience opportunities into a comprehensive curriculum. To determine…