Structural learning theory and the Rasch model measured learning gain, retention, and transfer in 1,037 students, grades 7-10. Students learned nine functional relationships with either spontaneous or synthetic algorithms. The Rasch model gave the better description of the data. The hypothesis that the synthetic method was superior was refuted.…

Describes a volunteer tutoring program coordinated by associates of the Exxon Corporation to help middle and high school students with math and science homework. Enumerates the successes of the tutoring program and highlights other outreach activities of the company in Baton Rouge. Stresses that the future of high-technology companies depends on…

Describes a partnership project where each fourth and fifth grade classroom of an elementary school has a "buddy class" at a neighboring middle school. Elementary and middle school students work together in solving scientific or mathematical problems. Helps students at both schools improve their math and science skills as well as their…

University of Colorado and AISES sponsor an Upward Bound program for Native American students that combines Western and Native-based approaches to math and science education during a summer residential program. Native American teachers expose students to modern laboratory equipment, computer technology, outdoor field experiments, outdoor…

Secondary mathematics teachers participated in a problem-solving course in which technology became a means to develop as teachers and as problem solvers. Findings indicate a delineation between technical competence and metatechnology--thinking about how and when to apply technology to particular problems. (PVD)

Reflects on the achievement in math and science of Australian students in an immersion French program. The immersion math students outperformed mainstream students at a level not significantly different, and by the end of the first year, the science students performed as well as their mainstream counterparts, indicating that immersion students…

Describes a study done at Oakton Community College which assessed how student characteristics, self-perceptions, academic skills, and course-taking patterns can predict academic achievement. Findings show that students have unrealistic perceptions of their own academic competency and that math skills are a stronger predictor of academic…

Describes the use of Mathcad, an interactive software package that responds to mathematical input, in an undergraduate economics class. Mathcad uses a rules-based programming language that "reads" the relationships among variables and constraints defined by the user, solves for unknowns, and graphs for one or more equations. (MJP)

Characteristics of traditionally certified and alternatively certified teachers were studied in a national sample of 14,721 public school teachers from the Schools and Staffing Survey. Findings support some arguments for alternative certification, such as alleviating the shortage of mathematics and science teachers but raise questions about…

A study of 443 college faculty in English, biology, mathematics, and psychology in 163 institutions found gender, discipline, and some contextual variables to be the most significant predictors of faculty teaching paradigms. In addition, teaching paradigms were reflected in the frequencies of instructional behaviors reported by the faculty…

Describes the implementation in Arlington (Virginia) schools of Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA) science and mathematics programs for secondary students learning English as a Second Language. Discusses program goals, curriculum and materials development, teacher education, instruction, native-language support, parent…

National survey data indicate that 91% of metropolitan high school seniors and 78% of nonmetropolitan seniors had computers available in math classes. Computer availability was lowest in nonadjacent rural counties and in the South. Nevertheless, metro and nonmetro students reported similar frequency of computer use; 71% and 69%, respectively,…

A stochastic multidimensional unfolding (MDU) procedure is presented to represent individual differences in phased or sequential decision processes spatially. A Monte Carlo analysis demonstrates estimation proficiency and the appropriateness of the proposed model selection heuristic, and an application to capture awareness, consideration, and…

Identifies concerns of beginning science and mathematics teachers about being a new teacher and their perceptions of the effectiveness of their preservice program in relation to their concerns. Concerns included class assignments, curriculum development, time and classroom management, and presentation of content. Perceptions include specificity of…

Explored how preservice elementary teachers incorporated technology into a microteaching activity that was a component of their science education, mathematics education, and educational technology courses. Participants displayed varied levels of technology use. Four uses emerged: knowledge source, data organizer, information presenter, and…