The study is a survey of the different kinds of voluntary rural service (service-learning) corps of students from the institutions of higher education in Malaysia. The history, organization, and activities of the service corps are examined, and this type of student social action is viewed with reference to the role of higher education in the…

Suggests five techniques to be used by the teacher of English as a second language to initiate communication in the classroom: (1) the interview; (2) the mutual interview; (3) the class story; (4) the journal; and (5) role-playing and problem-solving. (CFM)

Discusses curriculum changes needed in elementary and secondary schools in response to broader social change involved in the information revolution. Highlights include the role of federal, state, and local agencies, private industry initiatives, the role of technology, and the importance of problem solving skills. Twenty-five references are…

Ten reference works for assistance in improving instruction cover such topics as note-taking, student learning styles, learning theories, examinations, lecturing, student cognitive processes, improving student attention, teaching for critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. (MSE)

Group process and rating techniques were used to create a scale for measuring severity and frequency of 24 problem behaviors in institutionalized mentally retarded persons. A substantial correlation was found between scores and staff-time allocations, indicating usefulness of the scale as a predictor of staffing requirements for behavior…

Reports on a study that investigated the effects of various instructional practices on programming proficiency focusing on characteristics of Pascal classes. States that instructional practices involve extensive on-line access, explicit instruction, and extensive feedback. (ML)

Describes a course aimed at developing library self-reliance in students that was offered through a predominantly Black outreach program at Evergreen State College. Highlights include the classroom environment and course content, which were constructed collaboratively by students and librarians, and guidelines for similar courses. (CLB)

Differentiates between learning efficiency (enhancing the rate of learning) and learning effectiveness (enhancing the mastery and retention of facts, concepts, and relationships). Discusses some of the contributions of knowledge engineering to metalearning. Provides a concept map for constructing knowledge bases, along with some possible…

Describes the cyclical nature of a problem-solving sequence produced from observing children involved in the process. Discusses the generic qualities of science: (1) observing; (2) inferring; (3) classifying; (4) predicting; (5) controlling variables; and (6) hypothesizing. Explains the processes in use and advantages of a process-led course. (RT)

Argues that the students, the primary constituency of the schools, have been omitted from efforts at school reform. Urges that students become part of a partnership with administrators, teachers, and parents through an integrated thematic plan that would make the student the center of the school universe. (FMW)

Two studies addressed various issues concerning the use of microcomputers in the classroom. One focused on the attitudes and concerns of teachers regarding the use of innovation, such as microcomputers, in instruction; the second explained the integration of Logo learning environments into the mathematics curriculum of primary schools in Belgium.…

Three articles on the use of new technologies in education focus on (1) Digital Video Interactive (DVI) Technology and its value in designing and developing educational materials for children; (2) problem solving with computers by using functions; and (3) new information technology and educational change in Norway. (LRW)

Presents an interview with reading researcher James F. Bauman, Associate Professor at Purdue University. Discusses research findings which indicate that there are identifiable teacher behaviors and instructional environments that promote learning, and that reading comprehension skills can be taught. Discusses implications of findings for…

The Family Needs Survey assesses the functional needs of parents with young handicapped children, including the following areas of need: information, support, community services, financial assistance, assistance in explaining the handicap, and assistance in family functioning. Field testing with 34 families indicated the instrument's usefulness as…

Discusses study of tenth and eleventh graders that was undertaken to determine how paid employment influences the behavior and attitudes of adolescents. Topics discussed include the development of responsibility, isolation from adults, negative effects of working, and West Germany's system of apprenticeship combined with part-time schooling. (10…