Summarizes methods used in establishing the English sample, characterizes English departments, and presents major findings describing institutional characteristics, character of the English faculty, enrollments, branches of English studies and degree programs administered, travel funds, faculty teaching loads, introductory writing classes, and…

Five environmental characteristics resulting in communication barriers are suggested: make the space "small;" create a supportive climate; let receivers become senders; "get personal;" and get them involved. Communication solutions and a variety of faculty techniques enhance communication in large classes. (MLW)

Reviews research on the cost of public schools, quality of schooling, public opinion on school quality, comparison with private schools, and prospects for reform. (SK)

Results of a survey of social studies methods professors regarding educational practices are presented. Questions were asked regarding class size, program interrelationships (position of the course in relation to the sequence in education offerings), course content, teaching methods, instructional materials, and how the methods instructors viewed…

This report documents the extraordinary crisis facing Florida's public schools and provides evidence that Amendment 9--a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce class sizes--is a cost-effective and invaluable first step to rebuilding its troubled public schools. The report also sets the record straight about the long-term benefits of investing…

This paper examines obstacles faced by Japanese students learning English, noting that many such students are highly competent in reading, writing, and listening, but not in speaking. It suggests that students are worried about making oral mistakes, which cannot be erased once uttered, and that oral activities completed in English class are often…

Noting that Pennsylvania's current support of policies to promote school success for all children offers an opportunity to assess how well the state serves its children, identifies gaps in services, and enacts effective public policies to meet children's needs, this special Kids Count report describes effective practices to help Pennsylvania…

The central purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which community college students and faculty agree on the evaluation and importance of cited critical issues in relation to online instruction. The researcher selected two urban and two rural community colleges in North Carolina to survey students and faculty regarding their…

This Institutional Effectiveness report for Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) offers statistics comparing PVCC's performance with that of the entire Virginia Community College System (VCCS). Highlights of findings included in the report are: (1) the student advancement rate (those who are still enrolled in PVCC, those who have…

This study examined the effects of course level, class size, and instructor gender on student ratings of teacher performance at the National Hualien Teachers College in Taiwan. A total of 9,843 usable evaluation forms were completed for 440 courses (96 freshmen-level, 142 sophomore-level, 119 junior-level, and 83 senior-level) taught by 132…

This study assessed the influence of class size on the change in student computer attitudes after the completion of a 16-week computer literacy course. The sample consisted of 317 students enrolled in 15 sections of computer literacy courses at a university in the fall of 1993. Class size varied from 16 to 178. The dependent variable was the…

The "Plain Talk about K.I.D.S. (Kids Inclined toward Difficulty in School)" summit is a biennial conference that addresses the challenges of educational change from several strategic directions at once, combining theory and research with concrete strategies and solutions from the educational, medical, judicial, business, and parental professions.…

Boston Pilot Schools were created in 1994 to promote increased choice options within the school district. Unlike most urban public schools, the Pilot Schools have control over budget, staffing, curriculum, governance, and time, though they continue to operate within the Boston Public Schools. This report examines quantitative indicators of Boston…

"Smaller is better" is often the mantra of school leaders with regard to class size, while the benefits of smaller schools are ignored. Benefits of small classes seem obvious--teachers with fewer students could devote more time to each student. Conducted in 1985-89, Tennessee's Project STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio) found that…

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends that the size of physical education class be consistent with those of other subject areas (e.g. maximum 1:25 for ES, 1:30 for MS, 1:35 for HS) for safe and effective instruction. When students with special needs are included in regular physical education classes, their…