Both students and teachers can suffer from anonymity. In a spiritual classroom, redemption means deliverance, or liberation from obligatory suffering. Teaching may be viewed as reclaiming students from anonymity (a powerful form of inertia) and leading them toward deliverance. The teacher is simultaneously liberated by believing in a student's…

Summarizes a series of studies from the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition on possible genetic and social environmental determinants of individual differences in and racial/ethnic differences between groups on intelligence and attainment. These studies, which focused on Japanese and Caucasian Americans, illustrate the complex, interactive, and…

Provides an interview with Russian Academy of Education Academician Vladimir Shadrikov, the first deputy minister. Focuses on topics such as the differentiation of education, the theory of developmental instruction, and the formulation of a state educational standard for the basic schools. (CMK)

Examines two models of educational theory developed by Franz Fischer. One model defines education as a categorical reflection on the difference between a presupposed versus scientifically-explicable world, while the other grounds moral education on awareness of demands of the other person. Applies the models to the problem of otherness. (CMK)

Investigates the interaction between teaching technique (multimedia versus traditional teaching approaches) and student learning styles (verbally- and visually-oriented students) to demonstrate that individual differences moderate the impact of multimedia approaches on student learning. Suggests that multimedia benefits students with a high visual…

The Lawrence Township (Indianapolis, Indiana) school district has shifted from a traditional approach to programming for gifted and talented students to a talent development approach, creating a K-12 Talent Recognition and Development Program (TRAD). The program focuses on four talent areas: academic, visual/performing arts, technical/vocational,…

Examines 410 high school athletes' attitudes toward female coaches, finding that males were more likely than females to believe coaching style was dependent on the coach's gender and that coaching opportunities were more restricted for females. Both male and female athletes had stronger preferences for male coaches than for female coaches. (MDM)

A parent deplores the overemphasis on socialization and collaboration in his son's seventh-grade classroom. He believes cooperative learning limits his son's educational opportunity, intellectual growth, and motivation to achieve. In the wake of corporate downsizing, there's even greater need for individual initiative and expertise. Social…

Presents French-speaking researchers' contribution to differential developmental psychology. Traces methodological and theoretical transformations necessary for understanding individual differences within a general theory of cognitive development. Provides overview of pluralistic and multidimensional model of cognitive functioning/development…

Discusses some general-causal assumptions of current neo-Piagetian research and compares them with those of French European developmentalists with regard to individual differences, developmental stages, and methodology. Discusses the developmental unfolding of mental attentional mechanisms. Highlights developmental theory problems for the…

Emphasizes the benefits of cooperation between researchers in developing a comprehensive model of cognitive development that considers the constraints of human brain structures and the interplay of general laws of development and individual differences in developmental pathways within the context of social and cultural environments. (Author)

Temperament development was studied in 39 full-term small-for-gestational-age infants and 30 full-term appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. Temperament was measured at 4, 8, and 12 months of age using a behavioral assessment procedure and questionnaire ratings. Findings indicated that restricted fetal growth negatively affects infant…

Argues that conceptual change is best understood when multiple perspectives are used to interpret chemistry learning. Case studies of two secondary school students show that personal factors and differing interests and purposes for studying science can influence learning outcomes, and that high scores on achievement tests are unreliable indicators…

Examined individual differences in and school effects on health outcomes of students using data for 6,883 Canadian students from 147 schools from the New Brunswick School Climate Study. Among the many findings of interest is that school context (socioeconomic status) and school climate (disciplinary climate) affected general health. Discusses the…

Describes results from two independent investigations of college students that were conducted to study the impact of differences in users' cognition and search tasks on Web search activities and outcomes. Topics include cognitive style; problem-solving; and implications for the design and use of the Web and Web search engines. (Author/LRW)