Academic risk taking--the selection of schoollike tasks ranging in difficulty and probability of success--was examined for 602 students in grades 4, 6, and 8 in Taiwan. Results of a self-report measure of tolerance for failure and a risk-taking task are discussed concerning self-enhancement versus self-assessment goals, metacognitive skills, and…

Notes that technical education must be an ongoing, career long activity and a normal part of the job. Lists objectives considered to ensure employees are at the forefront of their specialty. Discusses four types of courses offered by 3M's educational program. (MVL)

Current thinking of researchers from different disciplines about interaction among students in educational settings and the potential of peer interaction for learning and cognitive development is discussed. Topics of the eight papers presented include: potential outcomes of peer interaction, its nature, peer learning settings, and factors shaping…

Literature is reviewed on the effects of genetic and environmental contributions to children's intellectual functioning and the effects of preventive intervention on intellectual outcomes for high-risk children. Longitudinal case studies of two socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers with cognitive deficits are examined, along with interventions…

A study investigated academic policy development at 80 research universities concerning the academic labor market, academic reward structure, faculty seniority and retirement, and institutional research and planning. Results confirmed the need for more flexible academic personnel policies in support of senior faculty development and renewal and…

Describes a project-based distance learning course design in an open university course. Discusses approaches to course design in distance learning and suggests that students are not as easily manipulated by instructional devices as course designers may think. (CFR)

Describes one university's attempts to create a campus climate accepting of diversity and understanding of efforts to integrate race, class, and gender materials into the curriculum. The article details two teacher educators' struggles to transform the curriculum in four education courses and students' resistance to change. (SM)

Describes a study of fifth- and sixth-grade students that assessed the relationship of group size, exposure time, and attributions on children's performance on drill and practice of tutorial microcomputer tasks. Results of hierarchical regression are discussed and it is suggested that software designers focus on appropriate feedback to enhance…

Maintains that environmental education in New South Wales is supported as an interdisciplinary priority area. Describes an environmental education/social studies unit using children's literature. Describes six lessons and presents samples of student writing in response to assignments. (CFR)

Reports the findings of a survey of school library media centers in eight large urban areas with large enrollments of Hispanic children that was conducted to determine the availability of Spanish language literature. Highlights include media specialists and support staff; holdings; budget; book selection process; and library events and activities.…

Describes an innovative Japanese elementary school foreign language (FLES) program introduced at the Laboratory School of the University of Pittsburgh. Lessons focused on thematic vocabulary presented within a context, a language function associated with the context, and some attention to the grammatical or syntactic structure necessary for…

Presents a classroom lesson based on a simulation of a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the issue of coal mining on Arizona Indian reservations. Provides background information for student roles that include government representatives, coal company executives, and both traditional and progressive representatives of Native American tribes. (CFR)

Reports on an action research study on improving equality of opportunity for students in a socially and racially mixed classroom. Finds that students were empowered by their involvement setting up and drawing conclusions from the study. Questions the extent to which research should focus on race, social class, or gender. (CFR)

Two Oakland University (Michigan) peer support programs have helped improve faculty performance in scholarship, teaching, and service by helping faculty cope with professional demands. One group orients the faculty member to the campus community and department and aids him/her in progress toward tenure and promotion. The second promotes…

Discusses the design of the University Library at Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis. Topics include storage capacity; workstations; the user-friendly multimedia network information system; on- and off-campus connections to the system; the Center on Teaching and Learning; librarians' collaboration with faculty; and the Copyright…