Much demand remains for teacher education programs to produce highly qualified teachers. Current trends show that almost half of today's preservice teachers are considered nontraditional in terms of age and life experience. The purpose of this study was to determine whether secondary education teacher preparation programs should differentiate…

The authors report on a study of 120 secondary schools and 893 related classrooms that compared instructional approaches used in vocational and nonvocational classes. Results suggest that vocational classes offer alternative approaches to instruction that differ from those employed in academic settings. (Author/CH)

Findings from a study involving 8 physical education teachers and 48 secondary students indicate that the teachers allocated less than one half of the available lesson time for student participation with the learning tasks. In addition, the rate of successful performance experienced by high, average, and low achievers differed significantly. (IAH)

Describes two studies conducted in the United Kingdom that tested the effectiveness of flowcharts versus contingency statements for solving complex problems, one with secondary school students and one with senior citizens. Two measures of effectiveness are considered, speed and accuracy; and the effects of practice upon using the materials are…

Discussion of various types of feedback used in computer-assisted instruction focuses on a study of low-ability eleventh graders that compared the effectiveness of answer until correct (AUC) feedback with knowledge of correct response (KCR) feedback. Achievement data on posttests as well as time data are analyzed. (11 references) (LRW)

This study examined the effectiveness of a computer algebra system in teaching secondary school mathematics. Pre- and posttest results and time on task were compared for students receiving conventional instruction and those receiving computer-assisted instruction using an enhanced version of muMath, a standard computer algebra package. (four…

A study examined the impact of time allocation on the performance and satisfaction of special needs and nondisabled students enrolled in a vocational home economics community and home services program in one Ohio school district. During the study, researchers compared the performance and attitudes of disabled and nondisabled students enrolled in…

A three-year project was undertaken by the National Center for research in Vocational Education (Ohio State University, OH) to investigate time on task in vocational and technical classes. During the first year of the project, researchers used the direct observation method to collect time-on-task data pertaining to 10 teachers and 186 students in…