As enrollments in engineering programs soar, many schools have been forced to control enrollment, resulting in a large population of pre-engineering majors. To aid in the understanding and advising of these majors, student profiles reflecting motivation patterns are presented. (MLW)

Describes a course at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, in which multimedia and computer-assisted instruction are used to teach Russian culture. The use of this approach to meet individual student needs in large classes is discussed. (SED)

Details a study of learning involvement among adults through interviews with 41 males over 25 enrolled at a small New England community college. Interviews revealed that in the preceding year respondents completed an average of seven learning projects, spending 285 hours on each, and that 56 percent of the projects were self-directed. (DMM)

Approximately 4000 students participated in a study to determine relationships between attitudes toward science, achievement motivation, and demographic variables over the school year and across grades (6-10) by sex. Positive attitudes and motivation declined steadily across the grades with significant sex differences (males having more positive…

Reports on a study that confirmed that various personality factors influence students' school performance. Concludes that delinquent bahavior is largely a result of failure in school and that failure cannot be explained simply by the individual problems of students but must take into account failures of the educational system. (CMG)

This study examined the relationship between teacher involvement in decision making and loyalty to the principal in 10 elementary and 5 secondary schools in New Jersey. Researchers found that teachers were most loyal to principals who gave them decision-making power in areas closely related to instruction. (TE)

Describes a study of the role of face-to-face teaching and learning in two distance education courses at Athabasca University. Concerned with effects of a seminar on adult learner success, the study addressed the questions of whether students will attend optional seminars, how distance learners perceive seminars, whether attendees perform better,…

Fifth and sixth graders performed at a high or low level on a novel achievement task within a competitive or individual goal structure. The type and frequency of children's thoughts were assessed. Children made more ability attributions in the competitive condition and more effort attributions in the individual condition. (Author/BS)

This study examines the relationship between adolescents' time perspective and attributions for achievement. Measures of time perspective (continuity, optimism, pessimism, and utilization) and attributions (ability, effort, context, and luck) independently assessed for success and failure were administered to 10th graders. Implications for…

Research on the professional preparation of Romanian university students is discussed, including what constitutes specialist training and qualifications, student motivations in choice of field, values within the chosen profession as a factor in student attitudes, and the roles of knowledge acquisition, communication, work, and politics and…

Suggests that school sponsorship in Zaire by Protestant, Catholic, or government agencies serves as an indicator of future social power. Contends that perception of social power motivates students and influences their examination performance. Explains the charter system, compares the sponsors, reviews Zaire's education since 1908, cites…

Reviews communication capacities of computers that can be used to enhance the writing process; reports on recent studies of the social effects of using computers in writing classes, including a case study of student collaborative writing; and discusses research and teaching implications of research findings. (MBR)

Support for learning, as perceived by 516 adolescents, was compared to data collected five years earlier on family characteristics, ability, achievement, and school attitude. Educational aspirations were related to parents' and teachers' support. Females' occupational aspirations were influenced by situational variables; males were also influenced…

This article advances an attributional theory of motivation and emotion, with achievement strivings as the theoretical focus. Causes of success and failure share three common properties: locus, stability, and controllability. Stability of causes influences changes in expectancy of success. Expectancy and affect guide motivated behavior.…

Collaboration among five public school systems, the Digital Equipment Corporation, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has created the Math/English/Science/Technology Education Project. The program recruits and prepares prospective teachers under the guidance of experienced, practicing teachers, and provides the new teachers with…