A study with 28 fourth graders, 30 eighth graders, and 30 college students demonstrates that the relationship between knowledge of the requirements of a globally coherent essay and the ability to produce such an essay generally remains statistically significant when the effect of grade level is removed. (SLD)

Reports a study of pay equity among both academic and nonacademic staff at 18 Australian universities. Addresses topics including employment level, tenure (faculty), age differences, years in higher education, family needs, employment qualifications, career progression, job content, and research productivity (faculty). (MSE)

Examines the relationship of background, individual, and family influences on dyadic adjustment, using an ecological perspective. Data from 102 married couples were used. Age at marriage for husbands, emotional health for wives, and number of marriage and family problems as well as family life satisfaction for both were related to dyadic…

Maine's gubernatorially appointed Commission on Secondary Education produced eight overarching observations and six core principles governing learning climate, teacher expectations, differentiated instruction, assessment, democratic engagement, and program coherency. This new vision challenges schools and communities to rethink how they assess,…

Investigated preservice teachers' understandings of their own and their students' cultural backgrounds, examining how they integrated those understandings into literacy instruction. The ABC model (autobiographies, biographies of students, cross-cultural analysis, analysis of cultural differences, and classroom practices) helped stimulate students…

Reports on a study of 257 London Train Operators who viewed a short Computer-based Training Module (CBT), completed a Cognitive Styles Analysis, and then performed related tasks. Multivariate analysis revealed the influence on learning performance of age, cognitive style, and attitude to technology. Includes tables, graphs, and statistical…

Reviews literature and discusses results of two national surveys to identify factors influencing participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Notions of self-concept/self-efficacy, peer influence, and goal commitment, which can be traced to early socialization experiences, may account for most participation disparities by race…

Visits to rural indigenous communities in Oaxaca (Mexico) exposed Vermont teachers and university students to cultures that recognize the interconnectedness of life and caused them to reflect on how different cultural patterns promote or hinder ecologically sustainable living. The communities' efforts to incorporate their culture and language into…

Proposes the benefits of instructional design reforms for college courses. Design steps include how to evaluate needs, establish goals, and make changes. A detailed example is provided of a restructured art history course which was changed from a large lecture format to self-paced learning activities. (Contains 22 references.) (SLW)

Examined associations between perceived family relationships and depressive symptoms in two ethnic contexts--European American and Asian American--at two developmentally important points--early adolescence and late adolescence/early adulthood. Found that ethnic differences in depressed mood not evident in the early adolescent sample emerged in the…

Comments on the special theme issue examining the roles of socialization, biology, and culture as they affect adaptive and maladaptive developmental outcomes. Proposes a theory-guided research approach, based on four assumptive components of contemporary developmental theories: systematic change and relative plasticity; relationism and…

Reviews 20 years of research on gender issues and political attitudes during the high school years. Current research reveals no gender difference in levels of student political interest, efficacy, confidence, or trust. Interviews, however, suggests that females are more likely to express views on public policy. (MJP)

Using music, story, and prayer, this conference presentation describes the African American spiritual experience with curriculum, explaining what African American spirituality is, who African Americans are, why spirituality is critical to African Americans, and where this spirituality is found, then linking it to education. (SM)

Describes the major characteristics of elementary school education in rural China and the problems that confront rural educators. Discusses student-teacher relationship, classroom management strategies, principal and teacher roles, differences between urban and rural education, economic influences on rural education, and challenges for rural…

Examines differences in theoretical assumptions between mainstream science classrooms and American Indian traditional thought systems. Provides examples of culturally relevant science programs that overlook these differences, resulting in damage to traditional knowledge. Calls for culturally relevant programming that recognizes the legitimacy of…