Describes study of seven local education authorities in the United Kingdom which was conducted to discover how models of microcomputer use were being adopted by school libraries. Highlights include database information retrieval; computerized catalogs; improving students' information-handling skills; curriculum-centered plans; integrated systems;…

Explores how to integrate history content and skill development in elementary social studies. Suggests ways to combine history, language arts, reading, and critical thinking, including teaching history through children's literature, story telling, story writing, and mock trials. Identifies community resources for history projects. Introduces an…

Depicts an eighth grade unit utilizing the production of a newspaper to teach U.S. history, 1787 to 1791, in a combined social studies and language arts class at Malcolm Price Laboratory School (Iowa). Two teachers used both large- and small-group instruction to focus on the development of the U.S. Constitution. (LS)

Current thinking of researchers from different disciplines about interaction among students in educational settings and the potential of peer interaction for learning and cognitive development is discussed. Topics of the eight papers presented include: potential outcomes of peer interaction, its nature, peer learning settings, and factors shaping…

Maintains that environmental education in New South Wales is supported as an interdisciplinary priority area. Describes an environmental education/social studies unit using children's literature. Describes six lessons and presents samples of student writing in response to assignments. (CFR)

Presents ideas and suggestions from three music educators about interdisciplinary approaches to music education. Recommends using techniques frequently included in elementary methods on this topic. Outlines strategies for collaborative planning with subject-matter teachers. (CFR)

A faculty development program that encourages faculty from different disciplines to engage in research on student cognition, motivation, and self-regulated learning in their own classrooms teaches theory as well as practice. The program has been well received by faculty and has also produced useful results for academic departments and the…

Introduces a six-article symposium on interdisciplinary art education. Maintains that the specialization of modern societies presents a barrier between the arts and an interdisciplinary approach to arts education. Previews five articles that follow in the symposium. (CFR)

Discusses the benefits and effects of music teacher empowerment. Concludes that additional skills, knowledge, and professionalism will be necessary to successfully teach music in an empowered setting without losing sight of the students' larger interests. Urges that music education programs for training teachers be expanded to include critical…

This reaction paper offers evidence for the effectiveness of nondirective instructional models with special needs young children. The construct of "developmentally appropriate practice" is viewed as a working hypothesis and as a continuous variable, not a dichotomous variable. Relationships between early childhood education and early childhood…

This report on the status of undergraduate programs in environmental science (ES) comprises information from 76 of 262 institutions that offer a bachelors degree in ES. The following areas are discussed (1) administrative arrangements, (2) curriculum requirements, (3) enrollments, and (4) directors' perceptions of the problems and positive aspects…

Article discusses the training education professionals need to provide appropriate services to students with disabilities. Most have no training for the educational, health, and social service situations associated with mainstreaming, and they do not understand how to create integrated service plans involving parents, administrators,…

Presented are activities that focus on gathering, using, and interpreting data about fingerprints as a basis for integrating mathematics and science. Patterns, classification, logical reasoning, and mathematical relationships are explored by making graphs, classifying fingerprints, and matching identical fingerprints. A parent-involvement activity…

Asserts that economics can be taught more effectively at all grade levels using the whole-language approach. Describes the role of teachers, students, and the instructional process in the whole-language classroom. Discusses student evaluation using portfolios and includes a portfolio description table used in an economics class. (CFR)

Describes a classroom study of 20 self-selected, college-bound, U.S. history students in which the students created a story, poem, painting, or other art form after studying a unit on immigration. Includes several examples and descriptions of students' poetry, writing, and other creative projects. (CFR)