Suggests ways of evaluating the value of a college's investments in educational technology. Three main targets for evaluation are highlighted: (1) improvements in the capabilities of graduates and seniors in selected degree programs; (2) positive changes in the processes of teaching and learning; and (3) net financial consequences of these…

This response to HE 531 676 proposes that critics of ability grouping for instruction are looking at grouping as a social, not educational, issue and that research supports the notion that grouping is good for all students, not just high-achievers. Gifted education is seen as a legitimate educational undertaking compatible with other goals. (MSE)

Examines various services available to gifted undergraduate students, including admission to college without high school graduation; credit for previous advanced work; identification during and after admission; advising by specialized personnel; career planning; and special programs (e.g., honors programs, admission to graduate courses,…

Ethnic differences in self-appraisals among 2,743 incoming college freshmen were examined. Results showed that Asian and Black students reported lower career and social self-appraisals than did White students, and Asian students reported lower career and social self-appraisals than did Black students. Practical and research implications are…

Presents an investigation of 13- and 14-year-old students' classification skills when they analyze scientific data in science lessons. Finds that less-able students could only classify according to discrete criteria, and that the scientific context influenced students' classification skills. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/WRM)

Attempts to facilitate the text selection process for introductory psychology teachers by enabling them to match the level of the text with their students' ability level. Examines 37 introductory psychology textbooks published from 1995-1997 to determine text levels (high, middle, or lower level). Discusses the findings in detail. (CMK)

Investigates the usefulness of 50 variables in predicting the academic performance of 86 students readmitted to Bronx Community College following academic suspension. Principal conclusions are that specific academic skills are important, past academic record is unimportant, and a general factor called incentive is important in the attainment of…

Analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth shows that long-term poverty has substantial influences on both cognitive ability and achievement, but time patterns differ. Childhood is a much more crucial period than adolescence for development of cognitive ability, but adolescent achievement is influenced more by adolescent…

Investigates the relationships among student involvement in specific activities (talking with teachers outside of class, studying or doing homework, reading for pleasure, volunteering, and participating in clubs/groups) and their academic self-concepts. Indicates that student involvement in several types of activities is significantly, but weakly,…

Explored preschoolers' solitary-active play in the presence of peers as a marker for maladjustment among 153 children. Found that, compared to peers, children with frequent solitary-active behaviors were temperamentally less attentive, were more difficult to soothe, behaved more shyly, displayed more externalizing problems, performed more poorly…

Examined the long-term effects of ability-grouped mathematics classes on 1,139 seventh-graders who participated in the Michigan Study of Adolescent Life Transitions. The results revealed some negative and no positive correlates at the tenth-grade level for low-ability students placed in low-ability classrooms, compared with their peers placed in…

Explores the feasibility of the development and implementation of the dynamic assessment procedure in such curriculum-based areas as English as a foreign language. Results indicate that dynamic procedure provides information on students' learning potential beyond that which is available from the static test. This information can be used for the…

Performance of 210 2nd graders in different areas of mathematical cognition was examined. Children were divided into 4 achievement groups. Although children with difficulties in mathematics performed worse than normally achieving groups in most areas of mathematical cognition, those with difficulty only in mathematics showed an advantage over the…

Discussion of the triarchic theory of intelligence focuses on a study of ninth graders that explored the relationships between student abilities and the cognitive and attitudinal outcomes that resulted from student immersion in a computer-based inquiry environment. Examines outcome variables related to content understanding, problem solving, and…

Background: Students' self-concepts play an important role in explaining achievement-related behaviour. According to the internal/external frame of reference model (I/E Model), students use two frames of reference to form their mathematical and verbal self-concepts. The model predicts that external comparisons will lead to a positive association,…