Intended for college or secondary school teachers of courses beyond the basic level in freshman English and composition, this course description treats components of composition for critical thinking, including semantics, tone, logic, and argumentation, and their application to writing critical, argumentative, and research papers. The introduction…

Sage Institute of Canada, Inc. measured the priorities for improving education that are held by professional staff, the boards, and the public in the Alberta counties of Newell, Vulcan, and Warner. Over 1,800 people participated in identifying issues, conditions, and suggestions for improvement. They then assisted in validating the information and…

This study examined instructional leadership in eight diverse secondary schools in four urban, suburban, and small-city school districts in one western state. The aim was to gain access to a set of schools that provided both variety in instructional leadership and diversity in school size, organization, grade level, faculty and student…

Theory and research on a variety of topics in higher education are addressed in 13 articles. Titles and authors are as follows: "College Environmental Influences on Learning and Cognitive Development: A Critical Review and Synthesis" (Ernest T. Pascarella); "Learning Theory and Research" (Cameron Fincher); "Methods and…

An assessment model was developed to produce change in adult basic education (ABE) programs and thereby improve learning for adult students. During the development of the model, 89 ABE programs were analyzed. To determine the effect that ABE has on the quality of life of its students, researchers observed 77 of the 89 programs included in the…

A pilot study assessed the effectiveness of two selection profiles that were designed to evaluate candidates for admission into prevocational hairdressing and automotive mechanics programs. The selection profile, which was developed by the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) National Centre for Research and Development, consisted of the…

Intended for speech teachers and classroom teachers who work with elementary school children, this guide focuses on the sequential development of oral language skills and related skills. Following an introduction is a brief orientation lesson guide designed to interest children in the speech program and introduce the basic forms of communication.…

This guide presents research-based teaching strategies to assist teachers in implementing the Essential Learning Skills--symbol systems, literal meaning of information, implied meaning of information, evaluation of content and use of communication skills, expression of ideas, reasoning and study skills--in all curriculum areas. The first of three…

The Middle School Study of Mainstreamed Students sought to establish a foundation for interdisciplinary research on middle school mainstreaming by merging teacher effectiveness and special education practices. The study examined teaching behaviors through macro (classroom) and micro (individual student) analyses of classroom interactions, to…

Recent college assessment initiatives of the federal government, regional accrediting associations, state systems of higher education, and higher education institutions are examined. The goals and strategies of existing college assessment programs are also considered. The following issues related to developing and implementing college assessment…

A research study of the implementation of "good ideas" in 14 schools came to the conclusion that differences in school organization and climate cause differences in the success of school improvement. Specific aspects of organization and climate in these schools, called factors of school context, are the following: resources, incentives,…

This symposium focused on the special needs of visually handicapped infants and young children. Texts of 48 papers are presented, including keynote addresses by W. Aubrey Webson ("The First Steps") and Heather Hewitt ("First Steps--Parenting, Prevention and Programming"). Regional reports are provided for Japan, Bangladesh, the…

Papers in this yearbook cover a variety of topics in the field of language arts instruction, such as creative writing instruction, reading assessment from a Whole Language perspective, journal writing, and strategies for modifying commercial reading materials. Papers and their authors are as follows: (1) "Let's Get Creative about Creative…

Perhaps the main objective of vocational-technical education in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic today is to train middle-level managers and agricultural workers to take part in the republic's comprehensive program to accelerate its social and economic development. Secondary agricultural institutions called sovkhoz-technicums have played an…

This report presents recommendations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to guide it in assessing its initiatives in science education. The report outlines appropriate goals, procedures, arrangements, and resources necessary to establish an effective set of assessment practices that build on existing assessment activities in the Foundation,…