A study was conducted to examine the characteristics of students enrolled in an introductory biology course at a predominantly Black, southern university. Characteristics studied were ability, aptitude, locus of control orientation, cognitive style, number and enjoyment of spatial experiences, attitudes toward biology, and family background…

Presents the findings of a study investigating student and teacher perceptions of the academic abilities of students enrolled in liberal arts courses; students' need for and use of support services; and course attrition rates. Suggests alternatives to promote student success. (WL)

A study was conducted to identify and gain consensus on teacher competencies that should be demonstrated by industrial arts student teachers. Classroom teachers, teacher educators, and supervisors rated 90 percent of the 81 competencies studied as being of extremely high, high, or medium importance. (LRA)

The issue of a divorced parent's responsibility for financial support of college-age children is examined from legal and social standpoints. A new statute is proposed to consider the circumstances of each case, evaluating both financial capacity and student merit. Available from University of Louisville, 2301 S. Third St., Louisville, KY 40208;…

Using four scale scores from Sandman's Mathematics Attitude Inventory, relationships were found between parents' anxiety, self-concept, enjoyment of, and perceived value of mathematics and their adolescent children's attitudes. These relationships were interpreted by ability level. Significant differences in mathematics attitudes were found by…

Three groups of students--science majors, preservice elementary teachers, and all other nonmajors--are compared on the basis of their attitude toward biology, their self-concept of their ability in biology, and their cognitive style. Preservice teachers entered the course with the lowest scores but showed the greatest gains over the testing…

William Harper interviews W. Ronald McCarter, President of Southeastern Community College, North Carolina, about a suit brought against the college by a hearing-impaired woman who was refused admission to the nursing program resulting in a Supreme Court decision permitting colleges to require reasonable physical qualifications. (AYC)

Students (Grades 9-11) in two Florida metropolitan high schools rated their interest in 28 topics, such as travel, popular music, religion, the opposite sex, war, and politics. Interests were analyzed by sex, grade, and ability track in English (Honors, Average, Basic). Findings, especially those on romantic interests, are discussed. (SJL)

Discusses the need for mathematics teaching to be matched to children's understanding rather than to the demands of mathematics. Illustrations are given from the results of testing British children by the Concepts in Secondary Mathematics and Science (CSMS) Project, Chelsea College, University of London. (HM)

Summarizes the important workshops of the 1996 Language Teachers Association of the Northern Territory, Australia. One workshop suggests that every individual possesses a unique blend of seven intelligences. Three others focus on catering to a range of learners through the provision of multimedia tasks, by self-directed learning and through…

Investigated the contribution of ability, agency, and parental factors to the prediction of gender-role attitudes of 409 adolescent females in a private, college-preparatory high school. Findings indicate that ability and agency were predictive of gender-role attitudes, whereas parental factors were not significant contributors. Recommendations…

Details differential attainment by gender for all students in Wales over 6 years old, at every level of assessment from Key Stage 1 to A level. Notes few significant gender differences in mathematics and sciences. Reports, for all other subjects, no significant gender differences at the lowest level of any assessment. (BT)

Believes that characteristics, such as individual, cultural, or situational affect motivational variables of student functionality. Presents results of the study in which three groups of high school students participated: (1) learning disabled students (n=61); (2) high achievers (n=60); and (3) average students (n=105). Includes references. (CMK)

Equatings were performed on both simulated and real data sets using common-examinee design and two abilities for each examinee. Results indicate that effective equating, as measured by comparability of true scores, is possible with the techniques used in this study. However, the stability of the ability estimates proved unsatisfactory. (TJH)

The effects of classroom practices on stratification of students' self-perceptions of math ability were estimated in 67 upper elementary math classes (N=1,612 students) from predominantly White, middle-class communities. Results suggest that the effects of task structure depend on the actual dispersion of ability levels in the class. (SLD)