Provides summaries of 1981 science education research. Categories include cognitive style; Piagetian studies; student characteristics and learning; teaching strategies and learning; teaching use of instructional materials and learning; instructional technology; evaluation (instrumentation and methodology); curriculum research; teacher education;…

Drawing on British publications, three general issues related to girls and science education are discussed: demands of state and industry, equality of opportunity, and the nature of science and the scientific enterprise. (JN)

Based on a sample of eleventh grade students from different ethnic backgrounds, (1) a reading test was a more valid predictor of academic success than academic self-concept; (2) aspiration and academic interest were valid predictors of school achievements; and (3) a combination of cognitive and affective measures was the most valid predictor.…

Students with school problems responded to questions related to their school performances, attitudes, and behavior. Their parents and teachers responded to comparable questions. The student reports were consistently more positive than those of their parents, and the parents were consistently more positive than the students' teachers. (Author/RD)

A large survey supported the hypotheses that tolerance--measured by dogmatism, liberalism, conservatism, and authoritarianism--was higher among older than younger undergraduates; and that tolerance was higher in students who had shifted reference groups from home town to college. The role of college environment was discussed. (GDC)

Gives examples of major sources of unreliability in multiple choice items in health professions classroom achievement tests (clues to response combinations, mutually exclusive alternatives, implausible distractors) and offers some suggestions for eliminating them when writing such tests. (MF)

Examines the learning benefits of a learner-as-designer environment simulating a real-world multimedia production house and its impact on at-risk high school students. Students showed a significant growth in their value of intrinsic goals and achieved several critical design skills. The experience provided many students, who could not otherwise…

Presents a case study that shows how computer technology, including educational computer games and searching the World Wide Web, helped a fourth-grade student with learning disabilities and behavior disorders begin to succeed academically and to interact with his peers. Finding students' own interests to base activities on is emphasized. (LRW)

A University of Toronto effort to develop an accurate measure of affective characteristics in pharmacy school applicants to replace the interview resulted in development of a self-assessment instrument. It was found that a combination of overall grade point average, pharmacy college entrance examination verbal and reading scores, problem-solving…

A study of organized student exchange between universities in the European Community through the ERASMUS and LINGUA programs examined growth in program participation since 1987-88, member states' ratios of students hosted to students sent, student age in relation to periods of study, student expenses abroad for different countries, problems…

Provides middle-level teachers with suggestions for evaluating their classroom environment to guarantee a positive classroom climate that will enable students to develop a positive self-concept and achieve academically. Presents six evaluative factors that address challenge, freedom, respect, warmth, control, and success issues. (SD)

Interviews with 43 Mexican American 4th- and 5th-grade students found that student beliefs about their ethnicity influenced perceptions of their social and behavioral competence, self-worth, and attitudes toward school, but were not related to their level of academic achievement. Discusses the relationship between parents' and childrens' beliefs…

Reviews the evidence on how the concept of opportunities to learn can be applied to the demand for more challenging content for all students. Concludes that students learn more if they are offered more demanding curricula. However, such curricula creates the probability of unacceptable rates of failure. (MJP)

Reviews the research on access to and persistence within higher education among women, minorities, older, and part-time students. Discovers that, although participation among these groups has risen dramatically since 1960, enrollment among blacks and Latinos dropped during the 1980s. Discusses causes and implications of these developments. (MJP)

A survey of 145 faculty members from 28 honors university programs found moderate satisfaction with student performance on critical and creative thinking, problem solving, research, written and oral communication, and leadership. Motivation, attitude, intellectual curiosity, and discipline were identified as distinguishing student characteristics.…