A study determined which approach for vocabulary development, context or definition, would yield the best results on a teacher-made content area vocabulary test. Two random samples (for a total of 45 students) of fourth graders from a central New Jersey elementary school were formed. One sample was taught 50 social studies vocabulary words using…

This digest presents a case for the development of a precise definition of environmental literacy (EL) as a prerequisite to setting standards for environmental education. The discussion includes the following: (1) establishment of the relationship between EL, environmental education, and goals of the formal education system; (2) the development of…

Intertextuality is a term that is defined variously and, in a sense, cannot be defined categorically and should not be. The term serves as a point of departure for engaging in an academic discourse grounded in differing theoretical and institutional frames. In the wake of poststructuralism, the classical notion of a "definition," a…

This paper examines some of the problems associated with interpreting metonymy, a figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something. After defining metonymy and outlining the principles of metonymy, the paper explains the differences between metonymy, synecdoche, and metaphor. It is…

This paper raises important questions about proposals for empowerment and shared governance in U.S. schools. Holding that consent is the key to understanding power and empowerment, the paper defines these concepts, discusses the purposes of empowerment, describes the types of empowerment being attempted, and outlines some predictable consequences.…

Although universities require that their faculty be "productive," a study suggests that definitions of research productivity vary, depending on the respondent's position within the university hierarchy. Definitions of productivity employ different metaphorical descriptions, constructs, statements of fact, and practice. University…

The purpose of this paper was to elaborate on the definitions of child abuse in order to improve the understanding of child abuse. The definitions given by the U.S. House Joint Committee on Child Abuse in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and in research by Holden (1984), are cited. These definitions refer to the nature of abusive acts…

Although the scope of this article is ancient history, many of the same issues and questions, such as the impact of leisure upon our contemporary society remain within the focus of the study. History has for its subject human nature, and the record of what has been thought, said, and done. In the study of leisure of ancient societies, thoughts,…

Oral history, a method of collecting historical information through preplanned tape recorded interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge of an historical event, is a viable learning activity at the high school level. This methodology was conceived and later institutionalized by Alan Nevins in the 1940s as a way to counter the loss of…

A review of the literature on human resource development (HRD) and HRD programs is presented. Topics include: (1) two definitions of HRD (Nadler 1983 and the American Society for Training and Development); (2) an analysis of those definitions; (3) the importance of HRD to organizations and individuals; (4) descriptions of types of HRD programs…

This bilingual world history glossary is one in a series designed to help Laotian American high school students who are literate in their native language, but are limited-English-proficient, in meeting graduation requirements. Major concepts in world history and definitions of important and commonly used terms appear first in Lao. An English…

This bilingual earth science handbook is one in a series designed to assist high school students who are literate in their native Lao, but are limited-English-proficient, in meeting graduation requirements. The handbook is essentially a glossary. The first part, in Lao, contains major concepts in earth science and definitions of important and…

This bilingual life/biological sciences glossary is one of a series designed to help high school students who are literate in Lao, but not in English, in meeting graduation requirements. Major concepts in life science and definitions of important and commonly used terms appear, first in Lao and then in English. (CMG)

Physical science is the subject of this bilingual glossary, one of a series developed to help high school students who are literate in their native Lao, but limited-English-proficient, to meet their graduation requirements. Major physical science concepts and definitions of important and commonly used terms appear in Lao and in English. (CMG)

This bilingual handbook, one in a series developed to help students who are literate in their native Vietnamese, but not in English, to meet graduation requirements, deals with world history. The first half of the document contains major concepts in world history and definitions of important and commonly used terms, in Vietnamese. An English…