Literacy may be defined as a set of changing practices and techniques with the social technology of writing. The distribution of literate practices by institutions has been tied up with knowledge and power in societies. Who gets what kinds and levels of literacy from schooling is directly related to the "division of literate labor." This is…

A qualitative case study of Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) (in which freshmen enroll in specific thematically linked courses their first semester) was carried out at a large, public, research university. The intent of the study was to understand how participation in a FIG influenced students' learning experiences, and how those experiences fit in…

This paper describes an activity developed at the University of Nebraska to familiarize prospective teachers with the process of developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. The activity, titled "Experiencing the Change Process: Writing a Personalized IEP," acquaints students with the major IEP…

This paper asserts that an enlarged vision and additional perspectives of public relations will be needed in the 21st century: vision and perspectives that will not only complement but challenge existing paradigms. Future communication technological phenomena will require dramatic changes in public relations practitioners' efforts in relationship-…

This report addresses impact of the Learn and Serve America Higher Education (LSAHE) service learning initiatives on communities, higher education institutions, and students, and is based on 3 years (1995-97) of data collection and observation at 27 institutions. LSAHE has awarded grants to higher education institutions and community organizations…

This book presents six qualitative research studies written by graduate students in the Higher Education and Student Affairs masters program at the University of Vermont. The papers provide case studies concerning suicide, acquaintance rape, alcohol-related student death, classism, adult children of alcoholics, and multiracial identity. Following…

Tests are intended to assess performance of students. However, tests can also be used as an educational tool. Current patterns in education have produced a group of students with weak learning skills, limited confidence in their own abilities, an underlying hostility or distrust of the educational system, and an inhibited attitude towards…

This report presents highlights of a conference designed to assist California State University campuses in efforts to internationalize their institutions. The conference addressed the following aspects of international education: introduction of appropriate international content and global awareness of the teaching-learning process;…

The intellectual development of black college students on a predominantly white campus was examined using the Reflective Judgment model of post-adolescent intellectual development. The model posits a seven-stage sequence of changes in assumptions about the sources of certainty of knowledge, and shows how these assumptions affect the ways adults…

Educators use the term "authentic assessment" to refer to the practice of realistic student involvement in the evaluation of student achievement. Authentic assessments are performance-based and instructionally appropriate. One method of authentic assessment is the assembly and review of a portfolio of a student's work. The portfolio is a…

Inservice training sessions were provided for teachers from elementary to high school level on the topic of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and its application to instruction and curriculum. In the training, participants experience, plan, and reflect on the intelligences and their uses in their lives and their classrooms. The…

This document is a report on the Council of Europe's October 1990 conference on the subject of the arts in education. Aimed at those with interests in the education of students ranging from ages 11 to 18, the conference included administrators, inspectors, advisers, teachers, and practicing artists. Planners of the event sought to foster stronger…

This paper reports on two studies, one quantitative and the other qualitative, on the effectiveness and influence of Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) at the University of Washington. A quantitative panel study compared 442 freshmen participating in 21 FIGs with 1818 non-participating freshmen. Findings indicated that the FIG program provided a…

This paper presents results from the first phase of a longitudinal study of the Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry) Scheme, a recent government initiative under which graduate students receive grants to conduct projects for Masters or PhD degrees, supervised jointly by university and industry partners. The study involved national surveys of…

This paper identifies the bases and rationale for the concept of cooperative learning; describes the dynamics of the cooperative learning approach; and proposes methods that college faculty can use to enhance student motivation and learning. Cooperative learning is defined and is reported to have positive effects on student achievement, human…