Concept mapping typically refers to the graphic representation of concepts and their interrelationships. In this instance, concept mapping is used as a means for assessing an individual's conceptual understanding of a curricular topic. In a series of studies with teacher trainees, emphasis was on determining whether concept maps have regular…

What are the long term consequences associated with serving as a state FFA officer? Using a semi-structured interview format, selected state FFA officers from a twenty year time span were interviewed to assess their perceptions of and assets attributed to their experiences as a state officer. Results indicated that past state officers, regardless…

This publication provides parenting information concerning infants, toddlers, and children in the preschool, elementary school, early adolescence, and high school years. The section on infants includes material on child care, safety, and the process of learning language. Toddlers are discussed in terms of discipline, rewards, reading aloud, and…

This guide was written for those who provide care for a child or for children in small groups, whether in a family day home, registered day home, group day home, in-home care arrangement, or babysitting. Sections offer advice on: (1) ways to respond to the needs, characteristics, and potentials of young children; (2) safety; (3) health; (4)…

Features of the Education for Parenting program's Learning About Parenting: Learning to Care curriculum, Parts I, II, and III are described in detail. The curriculum aims to sensitize students to the responsibilities of parenting and teach students the information and skills needed for parenting and caregiving. It is expected that students who…

This paper presents data collected from rehabilitation centers serving individuals with developmental disabilities in Minnesota, called Developmental Achievement Centers (DACs). The data focus on finances, programs, and clients, and are compared with data from previous years. All 97 providers of adult services in Minnesota completed the survey,…

The cultural orientation curriculum for young adults in the International Catholic Migration Commission's Philippine Refugee Processing Center is discussed and outlined. The program's goals for emotional and character development (self-awareness and self-esteem, cultural awareness, pro-activity, personal responsibility), knowledge of cultural…

A research study examined what behaviors faculty members valued in undergraduate students at Iowa's Drake University, as well as what general competencies faculty members feel an undergraduate should attain. A questionnaire sent to 364 faculty members with direct student contact asked their ratings of 111 behaviors in evaluating their students. A…

Using a critical-career events framework to describe the socialization process in academe, a model was developed which relates how the experiencing of critical-career events affects individuals' judgments of their research self-efficacy which, in turn, affects their scholarly productivity. A sample of 206 full-time associate professors from 7…

This paper examines the role that humor may play in guidance counseling. After a brief review of the literature on the physiology of laughter and the therapeutic effects of humor, the paper draws on past research to discuss the developmental stages of humor from infancy to late adolescence and adulthood, citing examples of the kinds of humor that…

The effect of collegiate experiences on students' reported personal development during the first two years of college were studied after controlling for individual, prematriculation differences. LISREL (LInear Structural RELationships) Analysis was employed to fit Tinto's theoretical framework to the variables and processes potentially involved in…

The cultural nature of the concept of the child in American early childhood education from 1880 to the present was examined. Chapters 1 through 10 consider the following concepts: (1) the child as a theoretical construction in a review of the literature; (2) the exaltation of childhood by Froebel and the American Froebelians; (3) the savage child…

Designed to develop creativity in young learners, this book contains interdisciplinary activities which focus on the theme of space (inner and outer). Activity pages are provided that can serve as front and back covers of a student booklet and the suggested activities can be duplicated for insertion between the covers resulting in a booklet for…

A study of over 200 personal narratives, in which college freshman writers related their experiences of achieving literacy, offered insights into cultural differences in attitudes toward literacy. The activity of becoming literate was fundamentally the same for males and females, but the myths they used to understand and explain their experiences…

Effective professional development of teachers is a critical concern that must be viewed holistically, considering equally the needs of the jurisdiction, the school, and the individual. A review of recent literature suggests four distinct types of teacher development: preservice training, curriculum related inservice, jurisdictional issue related…