Report of a study conducted in two sections of a course on state and local government at Southern Illinois University that focuses on examining the effects of learning in an active environment (simulation) rather than in a passive one (Lecture and readings). (Author/ND)

Background information and a role playing activity which examines the conflict over control of the oceans are provided. (DE)

The American Indian youth find the school culture alien, hostile and, at times, defeating. This article discussed the characteristics of American Indian students, the differences among Indian tribal cultures, and the necessity for teachers who are non-Indian to recognize these differences. (Author/RK)

Methods currently used to investigate interaction during marital conflict limit the validity and generalizability of findings concerning the determinants and consequences of couples' interaction styles. The respective advantages and limitations of two research strategies--questionnaires and simulation strategies--are critically evaluated. Several…

In this paper we develop materials to address student interest in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. We discuss the physical characteristics of tsunamis and some of the specific data regarding the 2004 event. Finally, we create an easy-to-make tsunami tank to run simulations in the classroom. The simulations exhibit three dramatic…

A shopping exercise for the foreign language classroom is described. In this exercise, students contribute unused items, "money" is provided, and the students then set up stores and buy and sell the items. (RM)

Explains how to simulate dinner at a foreign restaurant to aid language learning in adult education classes. (CK)

The relatively new shadow test approach (STA) to computerized adaptive testing (CAT) proposed by Wim van der Linden is a potentially attractive alternative to the weighted deviation algorithm (WDA) implemented at ETS. However, it has not been evaluated under testing conditions representative of current ETS testing programs. Of interest was whether…

Possible bias due to sampling problems or low response rates has been a troubling "nuisance" variable in empirical research since seminal and classical studies were done on these problems at the beginning of this century. Recent research suggests that: (1) earlier views of the alleged bias problem were misleading; (2) under a variety of fairly…

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of "Discretion vs. Valor," a simulation game designed to give North American players a chance to: (1) identify with "believers" (Christians) in the Soviet Union in order to form new images of these persons; (2) gain empathy for Christians by understanding the dilemmas they…

The booklet offers general suggestions, a quiz, specific activities, and a checklist to increase children's awareness of the needs and characteristics of persons with disabilities. Preferred terminology is explained and ways to provide children with direct experiences with persons with disabilities are suggested. The brief quiz serves both to…

A method is proposed that increases the accuracies of estimation of the operating characteristics of discrete item responses, especially when the true operating characteristic is represented by a steep curve, and also at the lower and upper ends of the ability distribution where the estimation tends to be inaccurate because of the smaller number…

A course at California State University, Northridge, titled Applied Organizational Communication, allows students to apply their understanding of group and organizational communication theory to an actual situation and then in turn to analyze the observations in the organization in terms of those theories. The class forms a simulated organization…

This game simulates trade and food production in the West African region of the Sahel which is susceptible to drought. Players are divided into teams of two and four persons, each team assuming the role of a farming household in the Sahel. Teammates collaborate on production and trade decisions under conditions of dearth and plenty. The game…