Discusses the developmental aspects of the relationship between speech and print and examines the debate as to whether first-grade students acquire phonemic awareness by reading and writing the language or whether that awareness is best arrived at by direct teaching of phonics. Presents case study of one first grader's literacy development. (ET)

Presents a case study of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in a group discussion course at Marist College (New York). Highlights include advantages of CMC, including more interaction and increased learner control; efficient information access, including access to the Internet; and student attitudes toward CMC, including differences between…

A pharmacy school large-group (110 students) course in pharmacokinetics was designed to incorporate small-group team-based problem solving. The method allows students to learn material through traditional lecture, research the topic further, discuss the information gained, and apply the learning to specific cases in a manner that promotes…

A study compared two methods of rating medical students' performances on history and physical examination: using checklists completed by standardized patients (SPs) and databases completed by students. Results of each method were correlated with ratings of students by three physicians for each SP-student encounter. Results showed checklists…

Discusses four pedagogical issues that arise in teaching policy analysis to undergraduates. Describes three components of the case method approach. Outlines areas where the case method approach improved student performance and identifies its limitations. (CFR)

Analyzes the Baltimore Public School District's contract with a private for-profit company to manage the instructional programs of nine schools. It shows that the award of the contract was solely a political consideration; no financial experts were involved. Additionally, the program has not improved test scores and is being challenged by the…

The Bath County Computer Attitude Scale was designed to assess attitudes of students in grades 4-12 toward 5 areas: general computer use, computer-assisted instruction, programming and technical concepts, social issues surrounding computer use, and computer history. The reliability and validity of the instrument is examined. (62 references)…

Four eighth and ninth graders with learning problems were studied, focusing on their learning environments, learning behavior, and subjective experiences in the classroom. Ego-involvement and self-protective behaviors were noted. Results are discussed in terms of self-worth theory and motivation theory. (SLD)

This quantitative and qualitative case study describes 30 months in the life of a young woman with autism and a history of life-threatening self-injurious behaviors (SIB) who moved from a large public institution into the community. Decreased frequency of problem behaviors was documented. The importance of multicomponent positive intervention…

A young adult with multiple disabilities (profound mental retardation, spastic quadriplegia, and visual impairment) was provided with a voice output communication aid (VOCA) which allowed communication through synthesized speech. Both educational and residential staff members interacted with the individual more frequently when she had access to…

Examines literature for guiding libraries to develop services that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Presents a case of the University of Alabama Libraries' establishment of a technologies lab to serve the needs of the blind, visually impaired, and learning disabled students; examines problems and efforts to increase staff…

Bloomfield College (New Jersey) and St. Norbert College (Wisconsin), both small, church-related liberal arts colleges, have supported diversity through organizational change, one with a degree and certification program for a specific Native American population, the other with a collegewide effort for faculty development, inclusive curriculum,…

Includes five articles that discuss (1) outcomes assessment in higher education; (2) the librarian's role in academic assessment and accreditation; (3) what library skills to teach high school students; (4) an innercity high school library programs; and (5) accountability for bibliographic instruction programs in academic libraries. (69…

Studied the role of textbooks in elementary education. Found that the influence of textbooks on teachers' thinking and on classroom instruction was somewhat less than the literature indicates. Patterns of textbook use were not consistent across academic subjects. Conditions of elementary education encourage selective and variable textbook use. (BB)

During the 1980s, a difficult period for many colleges and universities, the University of Michigan was able to respond successfully to changing circumstances. The university has conducted three analyses (costs, staffing, revenue) that have led to recommendations in the areas of organizational cultural change, a quality approach to strategic…