Presented are six activities that help to promote critical and creative student thinking. Activities include discrepant events and questioning, divergent thinking, dilemma discussions, and drawing objects from symbols. Activities can be adapted to any science discipline. (KR)

Provides a sequence of skills development from grades 9 through 12 for students who are taking advanced-level courses. The skills are sequenced through a program that includes ninth grade government and geography, tenth grade world history, and eleventh and twelfth grade Advanced Placement history courses. (GG)

This study solicited 56 teachers' perceptions of nonacademic skills of students with behavioral disorders (BD) and learning disabilities (LD). Regular class teachers perceived differences in nonacademic skills demonstrated by BD, LD, and normally achieving students. Differences were also found between regular and special educators' assessments of…

Surveyed student affairs faculty members (N=35) and administrators (N=41) for recommendations of competencies, skills, and standards for doctoral preparation programs in student affairs administration. Results showed more agreement than disagreement. Possessing research skills was identified consistently by both groups. Identified six general…

Provides a summary of seven eras reflecting the philosophical perspectives that have influenced the treatment of handicapped individuals in the past. Issues concerning the integration of handicapped people into the community are reviewed. A conceptual framework for examining factors that influence service delivery is provided. (Author/BJV)

Reviews some of the major developments in teaching and training relevant community skills to mentally retarded persons. The following adaptive skills are discussed: (1) toilet use and bed wetting; (2) eating, dressing, and personal hygiene; (3) community survival; and (4) vocational and social skills. (BJV)

The hypotheses that sex differences in spatial ability may result from differences in spatial experience, and that training can improve spatial skills regardless of sex, are tested. Meta-analytic techniques are used. Relationships between spatial activity and ability, and the improvability of spatial test performance for both sexes, are confirmed.…

Investigates whether a three-month extensive reading program involving graded readers could improve English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners' second language competence. Finds improvement in reading and writing skills and a simpler but more correct use of syntax in the second language. (RS)

A project at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to improve the speaking skills of 36 secondary school French and Spanish teachers is described. The project consisted of a total immersion workshop for strengthening oral skills, learning classroom techniques, and developing innovative curricula, and teacher projects to incorporate innovations into…

In business correspondence and technical communications, lack of coherence can cause serious misunderstanding. This paper examines how the problem of generating coherence is addressed in English for Business and Technology textbooks. It proposes a cognitive approach to skill building and presents a teaching procedure for doing so. (Contains two…

Reports on a study investigating the effects of conceptual models (computer graphics and animation) on learning and transfer of code evaluation and generation skills of novice programmers; changes in declarative knowledge during skill acquisition; relationships between the quality of subjects' mental models and performance in skill learning and…

This study described 476 recruits' physical education backgrounds and beliefs about the purposes for physical education. Students' most frequently stated purpose for physical education was learning skills/activities. Sports experiences influenced recruits' beliefs about physical education. (SM)

Three data sets from previous studies demonstrated that children who began kindergarten with less implicit knowledge of books, as compared with well-read-to students, acquired this knowledge in kindergarten and first grade. Results suggest that those in whole-language classes progressed more rapidly. (SLD)

Presents a critical overview of trends in research on writing skills. Defines criteria for the studies based on current cognitive writing models. Includes treatments designed to change writer activity by influencing knowledge and cognitive functions. Discusses acquisition of knowledge or expert skills, interaction with other writers, and computer…

This report describes a self-management skills intervention utilizing a picture schedule for four high school students with moderate to severe mental retardation. The program was initiated at school and continued at home with different tasks. Students continued to successfully use the schedules on follow up after summer vacation. (DB)