Student achievement, cost, rural context, and qualitative differences relative to small/rural schools were analyzed in Alberta to address the choice between small elementary school construction and school consolidation with student busing. Studies in both the United States and Canada have found no consistant significant differences in student…

The Australian term "fair dinkum" (meaning genuine, true, or real) in the title emphasizes the book's intention of providing thoughts and reflections on how to enhance the art and science of English teaching. Focusing on literacy, the book deals with action research or teaching theories that may suggest other strategies and further field…

A collection of papers on the profession of teaching English for special purposes includes: "Scenes of Endless Science: ESP and Education" (A. Crocker); "Some Problems of a World-Wide Profession" (T. Johns); "The EST Teacher: A Negative View" (G. Greenall); "The Helpful EST Teacher" (W. Robinson); "A Way Forward: A Fusion of Two Cultures" (M.…

This compilation of conference materials consists of: programme, inaugural and closing addresses, working group reports, background papers, and a reference document. The principle substantitive items are the working group results and the background papers. Within the overall conference theme of "Education and New Information…

Electronic language corpora, and their attendant computer software, are proving increasingly influential in language teaching as sources of language descriptions and pedagogical materials. However, few teachers are clear about their nature or their relevance to language teaching. This paper defines corpora and their types, discusses their…

This article reports on the use of Web logs ("blogs") and online discussion forums in an instructional technology course in a teacher preparation program. Key goals behind the use of these tools included exposure for students to computer-supported communication and collaboration, encouragement of reflective practice, and a better…

The Rasch model for test analysis is described and compared with two-parameter and three-parameter latent-trait models. Conditional maximum likelihood equations for estimating item parameters are derived, and estimates of person parameters are described together with their confidence intervals. Goodness of fit tests are discussed, including a…

Information about the computerized Oregon Career Information System (CIS) and suggested strategies for implementing the system at the college and university level is provided in this handbook for higher education personnel (teacher educators, counselors, placement officers, and subject matter specialists). Topics discussed in the handbook include…

This article previews the future of universal learning, and related issues such as societal need, technologies, course design, administration challenges, faculty support, and student service.

The aims of this conference on education in the South were to identify important trends, garner expertise on the trends, and explore emerging educational issues. The conference produced 67 papers and talks presented at five subject sessions in addition to opening and closing sessions. Papers from the opening session discuss the role of technology…

Proceedings of a 1980 workshop on industry/university cooperative programs are presented. Program presentations and authors include: "On Industry/Academia Relations" (T. Baron); "The MIT Liaison Program" (J. D. Bruce); "An Industrial Perspective of Academic Programs" (R. Fuller); "University/Industry Interactions…

Ways that computer assisted instruction (CAI) can be useful in teaching English at upperclass and graduate levels are considered, with illustrations from PLATO lessons that have been composed and programmed. One lesson takes advantage of PLATO's graphic design capabilities, which enabled the teacher to design the runic figures and to show them in…

The grade 9-12 mathematics curriculum learning objectives, activities, monitoring procedures and resources for small schools were developed during 1978-79 through the cooperative efforts of 10 Snohomish and Island County school districts, Educational Service District 189 and the Washington State Office of Public Instruction. The objectives were…

Relationships between item bias, item difficulty invariance, Rasch tests of item fit, and item position in a speeded 72-item Michigan State University Vocabulary Placement Test were investigated using 143 black males, 289 black females, 2,953 white males and 3,271 white females. Measures of item bias and item difficulty invariance were determined…

The proceedings of the 1980 Institute for Public School Personnel Serving Visually Impaired Students in Michigan contains the transcripts of 11 presentations. The introduction lists objectives of the institute including providing participants with information on the role of the Michigan School for the Blind, new instructional materials and…