The Star Properties Concept Inventory (SPCI) is among the first instruments made available to assess student gains in a major section or "unit" of a traditional introductory astronomy course, in this case the unit on stars. This is in contrast to instruments for an entire course, such as the Astronomy Diagnostic Test or the Lunar Phases…

For the thirty-eighth time, the Research and Theory Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Proceedings of AECT's Convention are published in two…

This report, prepared by the College of the Canyon's Office of Institutional Development and Technology, was part of the Tutoring/Learning/Computer (TLC) Center's self-review process. It assesses the impact of tutoring services on student success. Student success is defined as the retention and success rates of students. Further, retention is…

States that after a qualitative survey of participating instructors suggested the success of an in-class tutoring program at the open-admissions Kingsborough Community College, a quantitative survey compared the writing performance of students served by the program and those who were not. Indicates the program's success--more of those tutored…

The Maui Hawaii Educational consortium (the Maui School District and Maui Community College) sought scientifically based evidence for the effectiveness of the "Cognitive Tutor (CT) Algebra I Curriculum" to inform adoption decisions. Decision makers were particularly interested in whether the use of the "CT" program affects…

Describes a study of the characteristics of students using the services of Mount Royal College's Learning Skills Center. Compares center clientele with the general student body in terms of gender, age, year and program of study, enrollment status, first language, and referral source. Center clientele were predominantly female and in their first…

Two classes of Mathematics 111 students at Malcolm X College participated in a study to test and evaluate a holistic instructional delivery system intended to significantly increase students' achievement scores, retention rate, and positive attitudes toward instruction. The 29 member control group received traditional instruction, while 29…

In fall 1992, a study was performed at Evergreen Valley College, in San Jose, California, to determine whether the presence of full-time instructional aides and part-time matriculation aides in four specific courses (English 321, 322, 330, and Math 12) led to increases in student success. Success was defined as receipt of a grade of…

The Office of Student Support Services (SSS) at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) is an academic support program for at-risk students. Created for low-income and first-generation students and those with physical and learning disabilities, the program provides specialized study tools, tutorial assistance, and social and emotional support.…