A Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) medical college substance abuse education program was evaluated by nine annual student surveys (n=892 students). Significant improvements were found in student attitudes, beliefs in role responsibility, and confidence in skills during preclinical years. Clinical programs emphasizing substance abuse increased…

This study investigated whether significant group, gender, and grade differences existed in the learning style preferences of high school students with learning disabilities (n=53) and gifted students (n=64). Findings indicated significant group differences in preferences for light, design, and kinesthetic modality, as well as for motivation,…

Two models of service delivery to college students with disabilities are compared: the traditional model, in which student personnel staff are responsible for providing services, and a student development model, in which student and staff work together, with the student more often than not taking primary responsibility for making things happen.…

Contends that educators, researchers, and parents spend considerable time and resources deciding which lessons to teach children to help them maximize their abilities. Describes seven lessons to help children develop self-confidence, ask good questions, take intellectual risks, and attempt responsibility for themselves. (CFR)

Presents an excerpt from and a review of Theodore Sizer's "Horace's School: Redesigning the American High School," which shows educators that coalition principles and coalition schools are possible. The excerpt explores the importance of engaging students in using their minds and doing the work themselves. (SM)

Describes an open-format laboratory school housed on the campus of Manakato University in Minnesota that was the antithesis of dominant schooling patterns in 1968. Wilson Campus School practiced early forms of authentic assessment, participative decision making, cooperative learning, nongraded student grouping, multicultural education, and…

Contends that teachers have an obligation to select classroom management strategies that help students develop skills for responsible citizenship. Asserts that involving students in participative decision making is essential to this process. Provides four guidelines and 17 subguidelines derived from classroom management research. (CFR)

Research, while limited, finds that service learning positively affects participants as to social development, academic achievement, civic awareness, and career exploration. High-quality programs maximize student outcomes. The difference between service learning and community service is linkage to standards and specific curriculum content. Key…

Henrico County (Virginia) Public Schools' alternative programs are becoming lifelines for troubled and/or underachieving students at all grade levels. Each program is well structured; stresses high behavior, achievement, and attendance standards; and has small classes, a caring ambience, supportive parents, and clear, consistent expectations for…

Recommends music teachers setting up management systems that delegate some tasks to others in order to accomplish their myriad duties and avoid burnout. Contains numerous examples of delegated tasks, including student self-governing systems and home practice systems. Describes how some tasks can be handled by student organizations. (MJP)

British researchers investigated learning strategies employed by secondary students who were good language learners. Students completed language learning tasks and semistructured interviews to determine cognitive and metacognitive strategies, and teachers completed interviews about their ideas on language learning strategies. Results indicated…

Developing children's capacity to learn is at the forefront of all endeavours in schools. Teachers strive to capitalise on a wide range of teaching styles and innovations to stimulate, motivate and engage their children to become "better learners". Since September 1999, the Centre for Science Education at Sheffield Hallam University has…

This article describes a case competition that reflects the four elements of a grounded learning exercise. These elements include creating a real-world experience, optimizing learning transfer, integrating theory and practice, and shifting learning responsibility to the students. The authors also provide details on implementing this exercise in an…

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers', students', and parents' perceptions of the effectiveness of student-led conferences using portfolios on promoting the real world skills of responsibility, reflection, self-assessment, and goal setting. This study suggested that using portfolios in student-led parent conferences carries…

The poor performance of students in America's urban high schools, both in absolute terms and in comparison with their more economically secure counterparts in suburban schools, is a critical issue for the country, and the opportunity for all students to learn mathematics has been heralded as the new "civil right." In a recent study of…