Presents a literature review seeking to answer four questions: (1) What is washback? (2) How does washback work? (3) How can we promote positive washback? and (4) How can we investigate washback? A model is proposed that identifies participants, processes and products which may influence or be influenced by, washback. Strategies for investigating…

Discusses how to implement student self-assessment and large-group assessment in the high school instrumental music classroom. Reports on the students' thoughts about these assessment types. Includes various forms to assist in assessment. (CMK)

Presents a writing exercise for students in grades 3-8 that helps students write about themselves. Asks what will be found inside an individual's mind. Illustrates the lesson with examples of students' poems. (PA)

Discusses interviews of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students' conducted to assess their reactions to a tutorial project for improving cognitive performance in content courses through the use of talk and writing as learning tools. The study concludes that ESL learners should be given opportunities to use their own language resources to…

Examines teachers' use of and students' reactions to cooperative learning, and the quality of the group cooperation from a sample of Dutch primary schools. Reports that students' social skills, on-task behavior, and self-esteem improved, while students reported a positive attitude toward cooperative learning. Includes references. (CMK)

Presents an example of a completed Patchwork Text assignment written by one of the students in a course for primary school student teachers becoming specialists in science. Writing examples are provided under these main topics: What is Science?; Science and Society; Science and the Media; Science and Religion; and Science and Stereotypes. (AEF)

Evaluates use of the Patchwork Text assessment format in a module taught at the beginning of a post-qualifying degree program for community specialist nurses. The aim of the module was to provide students with a theoretical understanding of the different types of knowledge that might inform their practice. Comparative material is presented to show…

This study of 8 language-disordered children, ages 5-8, found that subjects increased their nonverbal behavior as message conditions changed from unambiguous to ambiguous. Nonverbal indication was generally the only signal of ambiguity detection exhibited by subjects and language-matched peers, whereas age-matched peers consistently indicated…

Examined effectiveness of refusal skills program implemented with seventh graders (N=235) of "Just Say No" variety. Program was not able to influence the "high-risk" attitudinal syndromes that are closely related to student drug involvement, and significantly larger proportion of students found it more difficult to say…

Describes the final segment of a Seattle high school anthropology course--a four-week stay on the Navajo Reservation. Examines how this immersion in Navajo culture changed the values and perspectives of White students as they were forced to confront paradoxes in their own lives. (SV)

Seven articles discuss the importance of using evaluation forms and methods tailored to the library, rather than to teachers, for the evaluation of school librarians. Appropriate evaluation criteria are suggested and three evaluation forms are provided, including one intended to be completed by students. (CLB)

Ethnographic analysis of a Black female urban community college teacher's classroom speech revealed two distinct but culturally appropriate ways of speaking. Results regarding comparison of the speech events' effects on student participation and their interpretations and meanings are discussed. (Author/CB)

Operant and cognitive behavior modification procedures were used to decrease impulsive aggressive responding by six hyperaggressive children, aged 7-11, in interpersonal problem situations. The procedures sought to improve participants' alternative response repertoires and develop internal speech as a self-control mechanism. Compared to controls,…

Analysis of 28,000 student evaluations of faculty in 46 departments of the University of Dayton. Overall instructor effectiveness was predicted most strongly by ratings on three items: instructor was prepared, presented subject matter clearly, and was interesting. Predictors of students perceiving they "learned a lot" were instructor was…

Focuses on a real world technique used to teach language proficiency in the classroom. This method involves creating deliberate information and opinion gaps by administering pop quizzes and other communicative games and filling those gaps through cooperative action. Use of this technique generated heated discussion among students. (nine…