Discusses the problems presented to writing center tutors by traditional research paper assignments. Recounts typical definitions of student research papers according to current-traditional rhetoric. Advocates writing centers helping students transform research papers into meaning-making activities in which students construct knowledge. (HB)

Several years ago, students at an Arizona middle school traded over $1.9 million in grocery receipts for 12 computers. School board provided another $70,000 to create a multimedia technology lab with 32 work stations and a focus on production and academic support. Kids use center to develop word-processing and computer drawing skills,…

Discusses Travessia, a Portuguese language curriculum that emphasizes development of communicative competence by using printed materials, the language lab, and a series of video tapes focused on Brazilian culture. (SR)

A survey of 58 dental school periodontics departments revealed the frequency of predoctoral dental students performing surgery, the frequency of specific procedures, the degree of participation or performance of students, incidence of preclinical surgical laboratories in the curricula, and materials and anesthesia used. A wide range in…

Reviews the Collin County Community College District's efforts to emphasize active, experiential learning by providing "hands on" laboratory experiences in most courses, plus internships and cooperative work experiences beyond the classroom. Highlights the fluid and individualized nature of the experiential component, accommodating faculty and…

Described is the undergraduate curriculum in physics and its relationship to astronomy at Cambridge University. Discussed are the astronomical research and research establishments at Cambridge. Personal views of a student on the postgraduate research being done at Cambridge are also included. (KR)

Described is an activity in which students determine the percent composition of zinc and copper in pennies minted before and after 1982. Students also use pennies to show the natural relative abundance of isotopes and to explain how the weighted atomic mass of the elements is determined. (KR)

Described is how the construction of a breathalyzer was used by high school students to focus on a variety of concepts and principles of science and mathematics. The procedure for constructing the breathalyzer, related material, and summary are included. (KR)

Describes briefly the proposal to change the writing program universitywide at Western Illinois University. Draws conclusions about the rhetorical situation of the writing program administrator in his or her attempts to substantively rename and predicate what educators do and thus to redefine the discipline. (MG)

An interactive computer/videodisc learning approach to the conventional laboratory approach for learning biology concepts and science process skills were compared. The two approaches appear equivalent when evaluated by traditional learning outcomes, but the interactive videodisc strategy was significantly more time efficient than a traditional…

Discusses the role of writing center directors and teachers in the university setting. Discusses how to explain these roles to department chairs and deans to counter persistent misconceptions and to present a fuller picture of the work done in writing centers than statistics alone can offer. (MG)

Presents six short articles by tutoring program coordinators and peer tutors from writing centers at the University of Washington and California State University, Chico. Offers points of view on the experiences, responsibilities, problems, and possibilities of cultural diversity in higher education. Focuses on the importance of critical reflection…

Traces the evolution of introductory computing courses for undergraduates based on the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) guidelines published in "Curriculum 78." Changes in the curricula are described, including the role of discrete mathematics and theory; and the need for a broader model for designing introductory courses is…

Describes a student-centered software package designed at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin to support student writing by helping students generate ideas, improve organization and development, and improve editing capabilities. Describes UT's basic writers and presents findings from the classroom research-based program evaluation. (DMM)

Presents a simulation activity that allow students to work through the exercise of DNA profiling and to grapple with some analytical and ethical questions involving a couple arranging with a surrogate mother to have a baby. Can be used to teach the principles of restriction enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, and probe hybridization. (MDH)