As part of its annual program review process, the Department of Engineering Technology at the Community College of Allegheny County, in Pennsylvania, conducted a study of computer usage in community college engineering technology programs across the nation. Specifically, the study sought to determine the types of software, Internet access, average…

The transcript (translated into English) of a roundtable discussion of literacy among francophone women in Canada begins with the personal narrative of one women who gained literacy skills as an adult. The panel of three specialists in francophone women's literacy in Canada then look at the literacy rate among Canadian women, and the demand for…

This packet, written for teachers of sixth-grade art and language arts courses, is designed to inspire creative expression in words and images through an appreciation for Japanese art. The selection of paintings presented are from the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution. The interdisciplinary approach, combines art and language arts.…

Authentic assessment is the process of gathering evidence and documenting student learning and growth in an authentic context. Authentic assessment can do a better job than more traditional forms of assessment in informing educators and parents about a student's real achievement. The first chapter of this book presents an overview of authentic…

This paper proposes a multicultural education framework for curriculum development for social studies/language arts core classes taught in a multicultural setting. The themes proposed in the framework are meant to be embedded in an integrated, holistically organized program. The purpose of the paper is to provide a curriculum framework model…

Using content to motivate students in grades 4-8 to acquire reading and writing skills, this book presents 13 mini-lessons on using literature to teach skills and strategies in reading, writing, and grammar. Each lesson covers at least 2, if not all 3 of these areas, and each lesson can easily take several days to cover. Each lesson presents the…

This paper explored task difficulty from the perspective of the learner. It investigated the relationship between student perception of task difficulty and actual difficulty as measured by successful completion of a task. The study also collected information on those factors identified by students themselves as implicated in task difficulty.…

Given the current state of science education Cultural Historical theory appears promising in clarifying how students' social context advances the understanding of science concepts and shapes their attitude toward science. The purpose of the study was to focus on how children's development in science is assisted by both home and school interactions…

This report offers insights on the experiences and techniques used in the Dearborn Public Schools effort to integrate Title VII and Chapter 1 programs prior to their reauthorization. The school system is located near metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, and has over 14,500 students representing 24 languages, many from the Middle East, Romania, and…

The design and development of GRACILE, a collaborative learning environment in the domain of Japanese language patterns and expressions, is described. The environment is designed to allow learning goals communication, learning activities negotiation, and collaboration between learners. From a group of student models, a potential development level…

While the expansion of worldwide hypermedia systems has opened new gateways in the information industry, the result has been material being archived faster than it can be read. Users need to be able to scan information quickly and have more control in information seeking and retrieval. A new area of research is in the development of multimedia…

Based on the idea that assessment and evaluation have become major concerns in elementary education, this book offers a solution for involving both children and parents in the processes of evaluation. Arguing for a program known as "negotiated evaluation," the book gives practical suggestions for implementing the program; looks at…

This study utilized a sociocultural approach to writing instruction and examined its effects on the motivation of students with learning disabilities. The concept of the Zone of Proximal Development was used to measure changes in five third and fourth grade students' motivation toward literacy activities. Students wrote in journals daily and…

"Konichi-Wa" is designed to teach Japanese language and culture via a multimedia videodisc, a teacher's guide, and supplemental cultural materials. Its objectives are to provide a learning experience for children in grades K-6 with instruction from a regular classroom teacher who has little or no formal language instruction training in…

The Regional Educational Laboratory Program is the U.S. Department of Education's largest research and development investment designed to help educators, policymakers, and communities improve schools and help all students attain their potential. The network of 10 regional laboratories works to ensure that those involved in education improvement at…