The importance of using culturally authentic materials in foreign language instruction is discussed within the context of national calls for American students to understand other cultures. A brief report on a summer institute for Spanish teachers is presented. Participants studied the teaching of culture, some tenets of U.S. culture for awareness…

In 1991, a study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the institutional research (IR) office at Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC). Two surveys were used to gather information for the study. The first was sent to the 285 M-DCC employees and board members on the IR office's mailing list, while the second was sent to 43 individuals,…

This study was designed to find out why and how students of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Pakistan learn through its distance education system. Questionnaire surveys of the students and tutors were conducted in November and December, 1990. Out of 1,650 randomly selected B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) students, 661 students returned the…

This study examined the needs of beginning early childhood teachers in their first year of work in primary schools, kindergartens, or child care centers in Australia. The study surveyed teachers in 1988, 1989, and 1990; this paper discusses the results from the 1990 survey. Subjects were 31 teachers who responded to a questionnaire that concerned…

A study examined the participation in education and training by adults from selected minority groups in Great Britain. The primary sample included 300 adults from the Caribbean and 300 from the Indian subcontinent. Two smaller exploratory samples were also surveyed, consisting of 100 adults of Chinese and 100 of black African origin. Findings…

This study examined College Board Admitted Student Questionnaire (ASQ) data from 1988 through 1992 to determine whether any trends could be identified, specifically with regard to the degree of importance ascribed to the 20 college characteristics listed on the questionnaire and to patterns in financial aid applications and awards. Analysis of 5…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) recently expanded its national survey to include state representative samples on a trial basis. In 1992, the NAEP undertook studied non-response in the trial assessment through two simulation projects. The first looked at state assessments that were similar to NAEP tests for states with low…

The purpose of this study was to determine if an elective environmental education course offered to students in Newfoundland and Labrador high schools (Canada) changed student attitudes towards the environment. Of 220 students surveyed for the study, 21 took the Environmental Science course. A questionnaire was used to survey four attitude…

This paper reports on a study in which case studies of two adult writing programs in northeastern Ohio were developed to identify and describe elements that make up the programs. Data was gathered through obtrusive observation, interviews, and questionnaires. Both programs had been on going for at least 5 years. The "Geauga Writers…

The formation of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has raised a number of questions about the strategic orientation of teachers in South Africa. These questions are regarded in light of recent political and social changes in the country. Most teacher organizations are reluctant to disband in favor of the new union. The experience…

This book suggests that radical changes are occurring in academe as more women, foreign-born, and minority scholars enter the professorate and as alternatives to full-time tenure track appointments take hold. It is based on an analysis of data from the 1993 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty on new faculty and senior faculty. The study…

Nine Canadian health libraries participated in a pilot test of the Benchmarking Tool Kit between January and April, 1998. Although the Tool Kit was designed specifically for health libraries, the content and approach are useful to other types of libraries as well. Used to its full potential, benchmarking can provide a common measuring stick to…

This volume examines education-reform efforts in U.S. public schools. The report, which focuses on higher standards for student achievement, is based on two nation-wide studies: the Public School Teacher Survey on Education Reform and the Public School Survey on Education Reform. The survey included questions on teachers' understanding of higher…

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument to measure students' attitudes toward multimedia classrooms and to investigate students' attitudes toward learning in multimedia classrooms. The research questions examined: (1) whether the instrument of students' attitudes toward multimedia classrooms valid and reliable; (2)…

This report describes a national survey of U.S. schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDEs) to determine how they prepared new teachers to use information technology (IT) in their work. A 32-item survey had respondents rate their teacher- training institutions on coursework, faculty capacity and use of IT, facilities, field experience…