Describes a one-dimensional model for an ideal gas to study development of disordered motion in Newtonian mechanics. A Monte Carlo procedure for simulation of the statistical ensemble of an ideal gas with fixed total energy is developed. Compares both approaches for a pseudoexperimental foundation of statistical mechanics. (Author/JN)

Social work training in West Germany and the United Kingdom are compared. In the UK fieldwork is mandatory and practitioners contribute to the pass/fail grade of the student. In West Germany, the social work student has to choose between academic standing or registered practitioner status. (MLW)

Some things other than costs are going up in education, the National Assessment of Educational Progress discovers from its second round of reading tests. (Editor) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

Discusses four trends relating to document delivery (DD), its future, and its impact on both the publisher and the library: (1) growth of DD; (2) acceptance of DD as a component of collection development and interlibrary loan; (3) move toward electronic publishing and delivery; and (4) growing voice of the author. Eight charts illustrate trends.…

Investigates students' conceptions and misconceptions relating to the construction of graphs. Qualitative analysis of students' responses identified three main alternative conceptions. Quantitative analyses of the data indicated that overall students did not enter the learning situation as a tabula rasa. Discusses the theoretical and practical…

Describes a lesson plan that instructs third graders to use graphs. Explains learning objectives, motivating students, conducting a class activity that includes graph construction, and concluding and evaluating the lesson. Lists materials needed. (GG)

A visual model of fractions, the tower of bars, is used to discover patterns. Examples include equalities, inequalities, sums of unit fractions, sums of differences, symmetry, and differences and products. Infinite sequences of numbers, infinite series, and concepts of limits can be introduced. (DC)

A conceptualization of test theory is discussed that addresses issues of weight and coverage of evidence for statements framed in recent educational/psychological paradigms. Implications for language assessment built around the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' guidelines are considered. (26 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses the relationship between prior computer experiences and the linear or nonlinear steps students choose when working with hypermedia environments and time spent on task (based on a study of graduate students). Experience with content-area software, word processing, databases, spreadsheets, programming, hypermedia, and authoring are…

The article addresses the needs of primary grade teachers, focusing on whole language. It offers strategies from various primary teachers on such issues as classroom supplies, whole-language displays, literature-based activities, charts, graphs, language logs, end-of-the-day journals, and a class tooth book. (SM)

Examines factors affecting selection and development of computer simulations, including type of learner, simulation formats, instructional purposes, learning outcomes, fidelity, learning stages, and logistical issues. A flowchart model and set of prescriptions to help designers arrive at specifications for an instructional simulation are…

Discusses procedures for the analysis of instructional strategies incorporated into distance learning materials, especially with regard to the development of higher order cognitive ability (i.e., critical thinking). Three approaches to task analysis are examined, including the learning hierarchy model, the concept hierarchy, and the information…

Discusses the evaluation of instructional software, describes two versions of a software evaluation model, and reports the results of two studies that compared evaluative decisions based upon subjective software ratings and data collected using both versions of the evaluation model. Teacher use of student data for decision making is also examined.…

Presents a series of instructional activities to be used in conjunction with a poster that identifies types of cases and processes associated with civil law. Includes procedures for the instructional activities, objectives, a poster, and student handouts using tables and graphs to illustrate current facts about tort law. (MJP)

A major reason the quality of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) varies widely is inconsistent use of the social discount rate (SDR). This article offers guidance about the choice of the SDR. Namely, we recommend the following procedures: If the project is intragenerational (does not have effects beyond 50 years) and there is no crowding out of private…