A survey of 46 states found that about half the states are using or studying special education teacher competency tests. The paper analyzes survey results by specific content areas being tested, including basic knowledge, identification and characteristics of special needs students, processing skills, assessment, learning theory, teaching…

The study, with 26 junior high learning-disabled students, found that students' predominant conception and application of revision to written work was correction of errors. Fewer than half of all revisions were rated as improvements. The only type of revision that positively affected overall quality was addition of T-units. (Author/DB)

Compared the agricultural knowledge systems (AKS) of the Netherlands and Israel; analyzed the features that made the systems effective and applicable to other countries. The analysis discovered eight elements that explain the success of these AKSs and demonstrated the value of comparative case studies. (JOW)

To explore the mathematics knowledge of teachers from two alternative certification programs, researchers analyzed interview data from the beginning of the programs and the end of the first teaching year. Most subjects could use algorithms, but many could not explain them. They appeared ill-prepared to help students develop mathematical…

Instructional materials on hypoglycemia, foot care, and exercise were developed and field tested with 98 diabetes patients who had low vision and/or low literacy. A pretest and posttest revealed an 81% reduction in wrong answers overall and a 72% reduction in wrong answers by a subset with low vision. (Author/DB)

Examined preservice teachers' ability to use component-specific feedback to positively influence elementary students' performance on overhead throw. Researchers developed an instrument to record teachers' verbal behaviors concurrent with student performance. Analysis of videotapes indicated teachers had content knowledge but limited ability to…

Two studies involving 274 Air Force recruits and 163 college students, respectively, investigated the relationship between priming effects and declarative knowledge acquisition within repetitive practice models. Individual differences in repetition-priming effects uniquely predicted learning differences relative to other cognitive measures.…

The performance of candidates in Northern Ireland "A" level Chemistry in 1989 and 1990 was compared to investigate whether the change from "O" level to the General Certificate of Secondary Education at 16 had any significant influence. The main influence identified was the introduction of the assessment of coursework in 1990.…

The roles that knowledge, motivational variables, and approaches to study play in academic success were explored for 104 undergraduates. A path model was proposed and tested, providing a basis for beginning to understand how the approaches to study students select may mediate between knowledge, beliefs, and achievement. (SLD)

Shares a model for a teacher education portfolio, presents reasons why portfolios might be useful for assessment in teacher education programs, delineates characteristics of an educational portfolio, and describes how to design and develop portfolios. Also includes case examples. (SM)

Thirty-four fifth graders in three conditions worked in pairs to learn science materials presented in classroom lessons. Students who used highly elaborated question stems outperformed those using less elaborated systems and unguided questions. Findings indicate that structured guidance in asking questions elicits explanations that mediate…

Examined the relationship between phonological sensitivity and letter knowledge in 4- and 5-year-olds in a one-year longitudinal study. Found that phonological sensitivity predicted letter knowledge growth, and letter knowledge predicted phonological sensitivity growth, when controlling for age and oral language abilities. Also found that the…

The reflective practices of four student teachers in a Canadian suburb were studied as they undertook an extended practicum. The experiences of one of these students illustrate an alternative way of thinking about the nature of knowledge construction. Central to this alternative is the difference between an incidental and a thematic rendering of…

Uses concept maps to reveal important changes in the knowledge base of preservice teachers. Finds that preservice teachers in a school-based, three-course "literacy block" constructed richer, more professional, and more complete concept maps (relating more literacy teaching and subject-matter ideas together with logically appropriate connectors)…

High school students (N=129) attending five state schools for the deaf responded to a questionnaire concerning their knowledge of AIDS. Results indicated that students had extremely limited core knowledge of AIDS and that AIDS-education programs for this population are urgently needed. (DB)