Encourages the use of imaginative writing about scientific phenomena and/or principles. Offers samples of student writings on the concept of succession. Includes a listing of topics which could be used for creative writing exercises and provides suggestions for classroom implementation. (ML)

This paper describes the conduct and the results of an evaluability assessment of the Adult Education Program, PL 91-230. It presents the findings on the intended program, the actual program, the plausibility of the objectives, the measurement of the objectives, and the program evaluability and options for improvement. (Author/LMO)

Recent work in factor analysis of categorical variables is reviewed, emphasizing a generalized least squares solution and a maximum likelihood approach. A common factor model for dichotomous items is introduced, and the estimation of factor loadings from matrices of tetracorrelations is discussed. (LMO)

Evaluates SPECDA (School Program to Educate and Control Drug Abuse) a comprehensive substance abuse prevention program which links drug counselors and police officers in teams to provide drug education. Results indicated significant positive changes in children's knowledge about drugs, attitudes toward drugs, and attitudes toward polic officers…

Describes students' views on how teaching methods could be improved. Suggestions for teachers include deemphasizing errors, providing a pleasant atmosphere, showing enjoyment, bringing in humor, admitting mistakes, giving homework, and letting students talk. (SRT)

Some of the students in Southern Illinois University's introductory zoology course were deficient in certain skills. The design of self-instructional modules that would be educationally sound and help overcome some problems encountered in this course is discussed. (MLW)

Discusses results obtained from a longitudinal experiment in early education designed to prevent mild mental retardation in high-risk families. Indicates that risk frequently becomes manifest deficits by the second year of life but that systematic and intense early education can prevent that occurrence. (AS)

A model of social skills in childhood and adolescence using the concepts and literature on symbolic interactionism is proposed. Its components (role-taking, role-making, definition of situation, and self) and their potential contributions to social skills analysis are discussed. An application to friendship making and possible model limitations…

Describes a study designed to determine whether positive personal reinforcements used by instructors can alter college students' attitudes about classroom behavior norms of the experiential learning method. Positive feedback given to rebellious students produced positive results, but students who received no feedback reacted negatively to the…

A collaboration between an urban antipoverty agency, Action for Boston Community Development, and a private higher education institution, Lesley College, is described. A bachelor's degree program for adults associated with human service agencies is provided. (Author/MLW)

Modeled on the county medical society and bar association, the University of Pennsylvania's Academic Alliances Program brings together teachers from all levels of the educational system. Faculty members from the schools and colleges in a local area, who teach the same academic discipline, are drawn together. (Author/MLW)

A sample of 5,162 undergraduates at 74 institutions was surveyed to identify the effect of the college environment on students' educational aspirations. Several environmental factors had modest but significant effects on aspirations; however, the magnitude of the effects differed somewhat by gender and institutional selectivity. (Author/MLW)

How the topic of intrinsic motivation can be used as the theoretical framework to guide an undergraduate educational psychology course within the teacher education curriculum is described. Three motivation exercises, developed using the concepts of R. deCharms, are included. A preliminary assessment of the technique showed favorable results. (RM)

Discusses ways in which personal and digressive talk can develop young readers' responses to literature. (HOD)

Two explanations of congruency of ideal (intent) and actual (action/behavior) work of faculty are examined--reward expectations and referent others. Based on interviews, a survey, and institutional data, it was found that referent others' goals have a greater influence than reward expectations on the congruency of work. (Author/MLW)