Teacher educators visited the classrooms of elementary teachers they had prepared to observe and interview them. Their research discovered an interplay between the philosophy and pedagogy of their program and the graduates' practice, the individual teacher's preparation and practice and the school culture, and what observers saw and understood.…

Reports on a review of research into the effects of organizational structure on the acquisition of knowledge. Asserts that the opportunity to learn has two dimensions: (1) the amount of exposure; and (2) the quality of exposure. Concludes that teachers and students make decisions about these dimensions, which are affected by inducements and…

The development and validation of a new instrument, the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory, for assessing student perceptions of psychosocial environment in science laboratory classrooms are described. Results with 3,727 high school students and 1,720 college students at 53 sites in 6 countries support the scale's validity. (SLD)

Thirty classes of fifth graders (n=536) were surveyed to see if their criteria for academic success, beliefs about the causes of success, and perceptions of teachers' expectations involved the coordination of personal values and contextual norms. Beliefs about causes of success have some relation to personal identities and students'…

Presents a broad overview of the current state-of-the-art, as well as the historical development of writing university histories. Identifies seminal and representative works from the earliest writings on university history to the present. Discusses genres, trends, and controversies and their differing developments in Europe and the United States.…

Examines, in detail, the changing nature of the composition of the student body at the University of Birmingham, England. Discusses the institutional changes that occurred as the small provincial science college grew into a major state-supported university. Provides extensive data and interpretation as well as statistical tables and graphs. (MJP)

Discusses the potential of design and technology as an environment for collaborative problem solving based on experiences in England and Wales with the National Curriculum. Topics include sociocultural approaches to learning and planning, situated learning, authenticity, interpersonal aspects, peer interaction, cognitive strategies and social…

Describes and compares five major types of college learning-community curricular models: linked courses; learning clusters; freshman interest groups; federated learning communities; and coordinated studies. Characteristics of each model are outlined concerning institution size, basic unit of instruction, number of students involved, faculty roles,…

Describes an online college course and student perceptions of the virtual-classroom experience. Students appreciated course flexibility and convenience and found it conducive to thoughtful analysis of class questions and commentary. However, they felt isolated from peers and instructor, and lack of face-to-face interaction hindered communication.…

This study of graduate students examined the process and outcomes of novice and expert teachers who learned a classroom-observation coding system through a hypermedia learning environment. The training program was designed as a modular, skills-based approach that allowed user-controlled access to tutorials, guided practice, and independent…

Investigates the teaching, research, and management entailed in four new degree programs--physics, agricultural engineering, agricultural food-processing technology, and pharmacy courses--at Spain's University of Santiago de Compostela. Reports students' opinions of reforms in these courses, revealing dissatisfaction with facilities for practical…

Discusses the integration of technology into the learning environment and considers how best to equip the teacher of the future to accommodate such changes. Summarizes the findings of student and teacher reactions to online Web-based courses at the University of Central Florida and suggests further research. (Author/LRW)

Reports the result of a study on faculty perceptions of reasons for student attrition. Describes the implementation of recommended strategies for reducing attrition at a community college, including seeking to know the students, tackling non-academic factors (such as scheduling), addressing academic and affective barriers, identifying student…

Discusses how teaming, attaching a group of students to a block of teachers for an extended period of time, can provide a supportive environment that facilitates middle school students in their developmental tasks. Describes how one middle school in Utah uses this strategy. Includes discussion of stage theory and its impact on teaching practices.…

Examination of the workplace as a learning environment reveals it is far from ideal and poses unique challenges to the practicum supervisor, especially when that role is assumed by a workplace supervisor. Specific interests of student and employee may not coincide, and the interests of both diverge from those of organizations and owners. (MSE)