The stated goal of Individual Computer-Assisted Instruction (ICAI) research is the development of computer software that combines much of the subject matter being studied, any particular student's learning schema, and the pedagogical knowledge of human tutors into a powerful one-to-one learning environment. This report describes the initial steps…

The phrase "technology and education" usually means inventing new gadgets to teach the same old stuff in a thinly disguised version of the same old way. Moreover, if the gadgets are computers, the same old teaching becomes incredibly more expensive and biased towards its dullest parts, namely the kind of rote learning in which measurable…

In February, 1985, the Ford Foundation launched an experimental program to strengthen mathematics education in inner-city high schools. Five grants helped establish urban mathematics collaboratives (UMC) in Cleveland, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Later, additional UMCs were set up in Durham, Memphis, New…

Discrete mathematics, the mathematics of decision making for finite settings, is a topic of great interest in mathematics education at all levels. Attention is being focused on resolving the diversity of opinion concerning the exact nature of the subject, what content the curriculum should contain, who should study that material, and how that…

Girls and boys start off equal in mathematics and science performance and interest in school. They appear to do equally well in both subjects in elementary school. Once courses become optional in secondary school, the down hill spiral in enrollment of female students in mathematics and physical science begins, accompanied by decreases in…

In mathematics, Canadian students perform poorly, and enrollment in Canadian postsecondary institutions is low, particularly for women. Clearly, there is a need to understand the personal and social factors that influence mathematics achievement and academic choices. A. Bandura's self-efficacy theory (1977, 1982) implies that academic choices are…

A workshop was organized to: (1) exchange ideas, views, teaching materials, and experiences between all individuals involved in present science education projects; (2) familiarize staff of the Lesotho Science Pre-Entry Course (LESPEC) with the working situation in these types of projects; and (3) start discussions of policy matters related to the…

In an effort to help determine the processes underlying the acquisition of various mathematical skills, this study examines some of the effects of computer based instruction on achievement in mathematics. The research reported in this document is based on the following questions: (1) what is the relationship between such attributes as sex,…

The curriculum recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Articulation Between Secondary Schools and Ohio Colleges are presented, along with the recommendations of the Advisory Council for College Preparatory Education. The recommendations for college preparatory science programs include the laboratory experiences and scientific vocabulary, as…

The Program for Research in Teaching and Learning of the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports basic and applied research on what NSF considers to be the most significant factors that underlie effective teaching and learning in science and mathematics at all levels. This document provides descriptions of projects funded during fiscal years…

This document is the first of three volumes of the proceedings of an international seminar which focused on student misconceptions in science and mathematics as well as teaching strategies intended to deal with those misconceptions. An introduction to the volume explains the format of the conference and the organization of the sessions. It…

Students make many choices over a long period, and choose a career through a complicated process. This process includes formal instruction in mathematics and science, and the opportunity for informal education in museums, science centers, and recreational programs. The influence of family, teachers, peers, and the electronic media can make an…

This paper outlines the rationale and basic design for the development of a state-based network for improving indicators of precollege science and mathematics education. The historical background for improving the indicators of the federal and state levels are described. Five elements of a conceptual framework for the network are discussed. These…

This document is a collection of over 80 exemplary project summaries from projects funded in 39 states and the District of Columbia through Title II of the Education for Economic Security Act. The subject areas covered by these projects are limited to mathematics, science, foreign language, and computer learning. Each summary includes a…

This is the report of a national survey of approximately 1,000 teachers and administrators from a sample of 425 schools nationwide. The report includes a description of the sample design, instrument development, data collection, file preparation, analysis procedures, and survey forms. Topics covered in the report include science and mathematics…