Claims the quality of educational preparation in basic communication skills is insufficient for students to compete in the new millennium. Discusses the communication laboratory as one educational strategy for addressing the issue of communication competency. Describes the rationale for creating a communication laboratory, curricula and…

Departs from the review-of-research model often used in this column and proposes research directions on the topic of word-level strategies. Reconsiders the growth of word-level strategies, not as an exclusive focus, but as part of authentic literacy use. (MG)

Describes how teachers can help students learn to use effectively the wealth of knowledge on the Internet by organizing research in advance, planning carefully and structuring assignments as students conduct their own research, and teaching students to evaluate web sites. (SR)

C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) can be used for communications oriented research. A research project on reactions in the United States to the Chinese pro-democracy movement shows the use of C-SPAN as a representative forum. Primary funding for the project was obtained through grants from C-SPAN. Twenty-one C-SPAN programs since…

Details the experiences of one teacher researcher who observed an 11th-grade English class over the course of a year. Describes the changes initiated by the teacher, along with their mixed results. Analyzes the student response to such innovations as writing workshops and shared interpretations of texts. (HB)

Undergraduate education majors should be given opportunities to conduct ethnographic research as a part of their preservice training. Programs at the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) illustrate ways to use such an approach. (Author/PP)

One aspect of children's daily lives--the school itself--is often ignored as a source of readily available data for student activities. School-based research activities that require students to collect, organize, and interpret data are described. For example, students conduct research on how students travel to and from school?

Described is a teaching model for orienting the teachers to the role of facilitator and resource person during science fairing. Cites steps involved in carrying out a science project, examples of hypotheses, and illustrations of various components of a project. (RT)

The effective use of research assignments with student-centered resources involves three steps: (1) identifying specific student resources, (2) designing an action research assignment, and (3) teaching students to effectively use research skills. Each of these steps is discussed. (RM)

Intended for geography professors, students, and researchers, this publication explores some topics in the area of alcohol use and abuse that are potentially suited for geographical research. There are four chapters. Chapter 1 introduces some of the more familiar arguments for and against alcohol consumption. The second chapter deals with the…

Describes an activity which uses the computer to produce an environment that encourages an inductive reasoning approach to ratio and proportion through a billiard ball simulation. Provides examples of graphs and bouncing ball data. (RT)

Describes modifications and procedures needed for parasitic lampreys to be kept in a closed system. Presents information dealing with obtaining the organisms, tank modifications, temperature, feeding, disease prevention, and animal welfare. A discussion is included. (RT)

Examines difficulties posed in studying local governance because of varied forms found in local government structure. Describes two research methods for drawing upon that variety: (1) building large data sets, and (2) using case studies. Suggests that local research activities, conducted in the context of an educational program, be used as the…

Ways in which language teachers can formally investigate the teaching and learning processes occurring in their classrooms are discussed in four sections. The topics covered include: the concept of research , its variety of meanings, and the prestige associated with it; the classroom teacher's traditional role with regard to research and how that…

The expository and creaive writing of Native American high school students enrolled in a summer program at Colorado College sponsored by TRIBES (Tribal Resource Institute in Business, Engineering, and Science) is featured in this document. Part 1 presents a simulation problem in energy and resource management followed by reports submitted by 28…