The common assumption that Japanese students do well academically because their schools are more academically oriented than American schools is misguided. Results of a study comparing middle-school teachers in Japan and the United States indicated that American teachers allocated a greater proportion of their time to academic work than did…

Data from 20,000 student ratings of 224 undergraduate courses at the University of Canterbury (England) were analyzed to explore the relationship between the ratings and course characteristics. The ratings were found to be stable and significantly related to academic field, class size, percentage of full-time students, academic year of the course,…

Language teachers serve as facilitators/consultants in managing group instruction in the communicative classroom. Four main aspects are described: choosing appropriate tasks; organizing groups; monitoring activities; and providing feedback. (Contains eight references.) (LB)

Examined what actually transpires in California's reduced-size classrooms, using systematic classroom observations and teacher and student interviews at four elementary schools. Results indicated that, overall, teachers still used whole-class instruction (though they perceived they used varied instructional strategies). Most learning activities…

Highlights federal funding to reduce class size to improve academic performance, particularly for low-income and minority students. Details three studies, as well as teacher reports supporting the benefits of smaller class size. Suggests that reducing class size represents a preventive rather than remedial approach, but that class size must go…

Discusses a survey unit that has been very successful with conversation classes of low-intermediate university English-as-a-foreign-language students. It can easily be adapted for students of various ages and proficiency levels by varying the types of questions as well as class sizes and by changing the number of questions. (Author/VWL)

Explains a model to analyze direct teaching cost per student at the class level in the final two years of secondary schooling in Victoria, Australia. The model provides predictions for class size and unit cost for each learning area for various enrollment levels. Cost predictions for foreign-language classes were twice that of English classes.…

Summarizes several areas of research related to second language class size, organized by studies of elementary and secondary class size, English as a Second Language, general variables of second language acquisition, and large class studies. (Author/VWL)

Sixty-one junior and senior high school teachers responded to measures of perceptions of inclusion, needs for effective inclusion practice, and knowledge of inclusion. Teachers felt inadequately prepared for inclusion and indicated their primary need was for more specific inclusion training. They also believed that reducing workloads would be of…

High school improvement is possible with visionary leadership and common goals. Ayer (Massachusetts) High School is a small, comprehensive school that has restructured itself to meet 21st century needs. Revolutionary changes have occurred in instructional improvement, core curriculum, technology education, class size, graduation requirements,…

Outlines the Association of Departments of English's position on: (1) the balance between teaching and scholarship in the lives of professors; (2) the use of outside reviewers for personnel decisions; (3) class size and workload for college and university English teachers; and (4) use of part-time and full-time adjunct faculty. (TB)

Investigates teachers' beliefs and attitudes on infant school classes in northern England. Reports on class size preferences and preferential treatment for some groups of children and teachers. Indicates that class size cannot be treated as unidimensional in its impact on the quality of teaching and learning. (CMK)

A survey of 331 student teachers indicated that though the majority believed instructional media made contributions in their teaching practices, instructional media are not widely used. Major deterrents to media use were lack of equipment, lack of raw materials to produce instructional materials, class size, lengthy ordering procedures, and lack…

Teachers and the school psychological services were asked to assess the quality of educational programmes offered to students who were found eligible for special education in Norway and who attended ordinary classes. Adequacy and equity of the programmes and an assessment of social inclusion were used as indicators of quality and as dependent…

Participating in a research activity by volunteering in a research study or by writing a short research paper as part of a course requirement relates to favorable perceptions of psychology and research, greater knowledge of procedures associated with participation, and other demographic and situational variables. College students who volunteered…