This report summarizes the characteristics of physics education in 12 countries: Argentina; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; Guatemala; Jamaica; Mexico; the United States; and Venezuela. An introductory chapter describes the goals of the Council on Inter-American Conferences on Physics Education, historical background,…

This paper reports on a study of the Biomedical Sciences Preparation Program (BioPrep), a rural component of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation's funded projects. The program was intended to give Alabama students (particularly minorities) academic competency in mathematics, science, and oral and written communication relevant to medical professions.…

The results of the administration of the California Achievement Tests (CAT) to students in the Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland (MCPS) are presented. The battery is administered in the fall of each school year to students in grades three, five, and eight under a state mandate. The CAT is administered to students in Grade 11 under a local…

The Maryland Longitudinal Study (MLS) participants and non-participants are compared on several pre-enrollment and University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) academic/enrollment history variables. The purpose is to assess how confidently generalizations can be made to the larger student body from the student studies as part of MLS. Two basic…

A review of the literature was undertaken to determine whether purchasing DIALOG in the CD-ROM format or subscribing to the DIALOG online format would be the better solution for middle school students interested in information retrieval. This report begins by stating the problem and defining common computer terms. A review of the related…

An inventory was made of reliable characteristics of effective schools within and across contexts, including a comparison of results of effective-schools research from different nations. A five-factor model of school effectiveness is discussed, which gives the following characteristics: (1) academic goal consensus; (2) safe and orderly climate;…

Covariance structural analyses (LISREL) were used to examine latent mean differences in general self-concept (SC), academic SC, English SC, and mathematics SC between low-track and high-track high school students. The study report is preceded by a theoretical model of adolescent self-concept and discussions of academic track as a social referent…

A study investigated the role of attitudes and motivation in second language learning by administering a semantic differential measure to college students studying Spanish in three different tracks (linguistic, cultural, and bilingual, or native-speaker). The student's track was determined by grades and language experience. Findings suggest that…

A study investigated the use of questions and directives by bilingual children of variable relative proficiency in Spanish and English. Patterns in the use of each question and directive type were examined in relation to language proficiency and context of use. Qualitative characteristics of the questions and directives were analyzed. The subjects…

Results of the 1985-1986 Survey of Voluntary Support of Education are presented, including a narrative summary and detailed statistical tables. Reports of voluntary support are presented for 1,194 two-year and four-year colleges and universities and 473 independent precollege schools. The tables for each institution cover: total financial support,…

Information on the number and location of U.S. artists, as reported in the 1980 Census of Population, is examined, and comparisons are made with 1970 Census figures. This document describes national growth trends in specific art occupations and regional changes in comparison to total labor force changes. The impact of migration on the distribution…

Both the American author, L. Frank Baum, and his Brazilian counterpart, Jose Monteiro Lobato, created children's books that featured alternative worlds, peopled by characters who fascinated many generations of young readers. The authors were both born in the second half of the nineteenth century into families of privilege, and both enjoyed idyllic…

The GO Project was created at Sacramento City College (SCC) to help underprepared students achieve success in a transfer-level sociology course, while improving their reading, writing, and study skills. Throughout the fall semester, students in the GO Project engaged in reading, essay writing, and study skills practice which focused on the…

Arguing that consultative and authoritative frameworks for rural development programs allow those in a superior position to define development priorities and to determine when and to what extent those in subordinate positions can participate, this paper outlines the need for participative-group management of such projects. The paper notes that…

Comparative research was conducted using gifted and average upper elementary and junior high school students to determine the effectiveness of utilizing microcomputers for the development of computer literacy and the implementation of curriculum courseware. Eighty students were selected as the treatment group and received instruction in the…