Presents a classification of the three types of distances involved in education, as identified by David Kennedy, one of the participants of the online discussion, "Transactional Distance Theory," hosted by the International Forum of Educational Technology and Society. For each type--geographical distance, psychological distance, and social…

Determined the robustness of several types of scoring (number-right; one-, two-, and three-parameter item response; finite-state, and partial-credit) with respect to the violation of the equally classifiable options and option independence made in finite-state scoring using analysis of test responses of 1,232 high school seniors. (SLD)

This review summarizes subject selection and diagnostic procedures documented in 142 empirical articles published between 1993 and 1997. Although most researchers reported use of standard diagnostic criteria in classifying subjects, numerous studies did not report diagnostic methods and there was often a lack of specification of inclusion and…

This article explores the current trend to dismiss general intelligence in favor of multiple intelligences in identifying gifted students. Advantages of the IQ test in identifying exceptionally gifted students who have unique educational and socio-emotional needs and the curricular implications of the general intelligence focus are discussed.…

Asked 19 Finnish children, aged 6 and 7, on three occasions in a school year, to group their classmates according to ability. Results suggest that the impact of school and its differential concept of ability changes children's perceptions, lessening social reasons for appraisal and increasing the use of performance-based criteria. (SLD)

Investigated 4-, 8-, and 11-year-olds' ability to categorize intentionally false and true statements as lies and truths. Found that older children were more likely to categorize false statements as lies and true statements as truths than were 4-year-olds. Antisocial lies were rated as most serious, and "white lies" as least serious.…

This article discusses the inclusion of high functioning individuals in the learning disability category. It argues that extending services to individuals without significant academic impairments may deplete resources for others in greater need, distort the normal processes by which individuals select careers, and diminish the credibility of the…

Surveys some of the basic concepts that have been used in computer science for the representation of knowledge and summarizes some of their advantages and drawbacks. Relates these techniques to information sciences theory and practice. Concepts are classified in four broad ontological categories: static ontology, dynamic ontology, intentional…

Proposes methods to utilize image primitives to support term assignment for image classification. Proposes to release code for image analysis in a common tool set for other researchers to use. Of particular focus is the expansion of work by researchers in image indexing to include image content-based feature extraction capabilities in their work.…

Preschoolers viewed stimulus sets comprised of a sample picture and three types of matches and were asked to choose a match that "went with" each sample. Children's choices indicated that a shift occurs between 3 and 4 years of age from a taxonomic bias to a thematic bias. Animate sample stimuli enhanced children's tendency to adopt…

Explores implications of the view that there is no such thing as the scientific method for biology education. Suggests fresh approaches to the teaching of drawing in biology, the teaching of classification, and the teaching of human biology by illustrating opportunities for investigating and describing the world scientifically. (Contains 32…

Describes a methodology that may offer an operationalized model that allows empirical analysis of paired associate versus symbolic learning. Presents an operational definition of the phenomenon in question and why it might be useful to model the phenomenon. Illustrates distinct advantages offered within this approach to scholars interested in…

Changes in the concepts of kingdoms of organisms are substantial and Protozoa is loosely characterized. Presents a case explaining how Protozoa interface with other kingdoms of organisms now recognized. (Contains 55 references.) (ASK)

Following pretraining with everyday objects, 1- to 4-year-old children received listener training with three pairs of arbitrary stimuli of differing shapes. For each pair, 9 children were trained to select one stimulus in response to the spoken word /zog/ and the other to the spoken word /vek/. Next, in the look-at-sample category match-to-sample…

This study explores how neighborhood context influences participation in local social organization through a multilevel-spatial analysis of residents in Chicago neighborhoods. We construct a typology of community participation based on two dimensions: instrumental vs. expressive motivations for participation and formal vs. informal modes of…