Discusses California's Middle Grade Task Force and its report, "Caught in the Middle: Educational Reform for Young Adolescents in California Public Schools." Describes the 1987 revision of the California history-social science framework which emphasizes character development through studying the moral and ethical struggles of literary…

Discusses a national program designed to encourage the integration of writing more fully into the college curriculum. Addresses the opportunities for improving writing instruction by focusing on the laboratory reports done by students. (TW)

Surveys current state-of-the-art in courseware development for microcomputers; discusses guidelines for overall program and screen display design; describes three major approaches to developing courseware--programing language, authoring system, or authoring language use; and reviews two current research areas--automated instructional development…

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of two microcomputer instructional games in teaching probability and measurement estimation to 78 preservice elementary school teachers. The probability game did not seem effective, and the estimation game was only marginally effective. Patterns of change are discussed. (MNS)

Surveys research on programmed instruction, questions, and feedback in instruction to identify guidelines for developing computer assisted instruction. The most important guidelines identified are those related to use of questions as attention, coding, and rehearsal devices, and those related to corrective feedback. (MBR)

Investigates fate of issue of gender in eight reform reports currently dominating discourse on educational reform. Found that gender is not relevant category in the analysis of excellence in schools and that the past decade of legislation, new scholarship on women, research, and action for sex equity has gone unheeded. Concludes that goal of…

Suggests research in science education is necessary to improve science programs; reviews science education research results on reasons students see little value in science education; and discusses science education goals and what is known about how children learn, suggesting findings in these areas should be considered in developing science…

Discusses the hypothesis that right hemispheric cognitive processes underlie establishment of meaning in language and in processing of linguistic gestalts, and examines several lines of evidence. Also examined is the hypothesis that societal complexity is related to differences in relative dependence upon cognitive processes controlled by cerebral…

Explores instructional design aspects of authoring software used to develop computer-assisted instruction; discusses nature of authoring languages and systems; describes instructional design implications and practical considerations in using authoring systems; and outlines needed developments in authoring software including intelligent tutoring…

Argues that experimental and field research can now demonstrate causal relationships between teaching techniques and learning, and that effective teaching practices can be taught. Urges, therefore, that improving teacher education be given high priority. (MCG)

In response to the educational reform reports, Glendale Elementary School District (Arizona) administrators decided to reexamine existing programs and begin long-range planning. They submitted a list of recommendations (selected from reports) to a community/district staff and task force to prioritize, then assigned specific responsibilities to…

Describes use of selective dissemination of information (SDI) feature on DIALOG at Sandia Technical Library to produce bulletin announcing library acquisitions of technical reports in microfiche. Microfiche acquisition, developing profile, assembling profile output, costs, and suggestions for improvement are highlighted. Examples of SDI profiles…

Presents the institutional factors related to persistent school absenteeism uncovered in a small-scale study conducted in industrial South Wales. (MD)

Education decentralization requires that substantial information be available to local and regional stakeholders. Increasing transparency, establishing a basis for accountability, and providing tools for effective management at the local level help parents, teachers, and school officials assess school performance and status. Several countries have…

The "Research & Action Report," published twice a year, is a window on the exciting activities and initiatives at the Wellesley Centers for Women. The report typically features news about the Centers, interviews with researchers, commentary on recent events or social trends affecting women and girls, announcements of new publications, and much…