Explores the views of 120 student teachers, from two higher education institutions in England and France, on their initial teacher training programs. Provides information on the reforms of initial teacher training programs in England and France. Discusses the results. (CMK)

Examines self-enhancement bias among 5th and 11th graders in the United States and Japan by having students listen to stories describing behaviors (aggressive, depressive, oppositional, and school-phobic) of hypothetical peers. Reports that U.S. students showed no greater self-enhancement tendencies, while 11th graders rated themselves less like…

Reports an empirical investigation that explored relationships between student perceptions and course design factors in 73 SUNY Learning Network courses in the Spring 1999 semester. Findings indicated that clarity of design, interaction with instructors, and active discussion among course participants significantly influenced students'…

Investigates how graduate students participated in online discussions over a two-week period to determine the utility of synchronous and asynchronous modes of discussion. Types and amounts of communication statements participants made in chats and threaded discussions were analyzed. Results indicate that both types of discussion are liked and…

Surveys of student studying an introductory science course at a distance indicated that they had very favorable attitudes to CD-ROM multimedia activities that are an integral part of the course teaching package. Research reported here focused on how students actually studied as they worked through the activities. Suggestions are made for future…

Examines the role of instructor likability/rapport on student perceptions of learning and ratings of overall teaching ability, based on data from 205 course evaluation forms representing student responses in ten upper-level sociology courses. Suggests that students who rate their instructors high in likability also reward that instructor with high…

Uses the fantasy genre as a vehicle of generating discussion about gender issues in a seventh-grade classroom. Uses 4 fantasy titles and describes how 10 class days were organized. Gives students' reactions to the book and assesses the impact of the unit. (SG)

Examined whether students' motivational reaction toward self-study text could be influenced by the inclusion of additional instructional materials (nonprint media). Participants were 969 students enrolled in an independent study course. Results suggest that student motivation in print-based self-study courses can be improved by the inclusion of…

Investigates the performance-quality ratings among college-age instrumentalists grouped in three solo preparation conditions using no accompaniment, live accompaniment, or intelligent digital accompaniment. Finds that the highest quality ratings across all groups were achieved in rhythm, technique, and articulation; the second performance ratings…

Describes the Transatlantic Classroom (TAC), a teacher-run e-mail program between students in the United States and Germany, and provides 10 steps for launching a similar program. Explains that e-mail exchanges enable students to learn firsthand about differences and similarities between countries thus fostering greater cultural understanding.…

Compares student reactions to traditional teaching methods and an approach where computer-based tools (GEODe CD-ROM and GIS-based exercises) were either integrated with or replaced the traditional methods. Reveals that the students found both of these tools valuable forms of instruction when used in combination with the traditional methods. (CMK)

Anchored instruction calls for the establishment of a macrocontext to "anchor" instruction within a realistic situation. Evidence is provided that video anchors encourage students to adopt certain contrived goals over their more naturalistic goals. Suggests that goals that enable the problem solver to detect the "raison d'etre"…

Presents results of an empirical study on the changes of students' expectations and perceptions of service quality in teaching. Results show that, whereas students' expectations appear to be relatively stable over the time of the study, their perceptions of service quality change over time and their perceived service quality level decreases as…

Compares the effects of explicit training in classical and romantic styles, the relevance of four musical dimensions, and the congruence of categorizations with predictions of exemplar- or prototype-theories of concept formation. Explains that subjects in both the exemplar and prototype groups relied on independently abstracted cues rather than…

Presents feedback from students and teachers who participated in the pilot of Project E.L.I.T.E. (Electronic Learning and Information Technologies in Education). The purpose of the Project was to deliver curriculum-specific materials through state-of-the-art multimedia technology. Suggestions are provided for teaching the social studies curriculum…