Elementary preservice teachers (n=185) in a blocked program of methods courses developed integrated thematic units focusing on social studies and science that viewed reading, language arts, and mathematics as tools students use to study the major content areas in the elementary school program: social studies and science. This was a complex task…

This update addresses major issues surrounding educational standards for all subject areas. It provides a review and analysis of standards and benchmarks in the content areas of science, mathematics, history, geography, reading, and writing. Also included is an analysis and description of the knowledge and skills considered important for the…

A study examined the perceptions of participants in a multidisciplinary project regarding the degree to which the integration of technology, mathematics, and science had enabled advanced mental skills in technical thinking and problem solving. A literature review focused on advanced learning and thinking, ill-structured workplace problems,…

The 1992-93 school year saw the second statewide implementation of the Vermont portfolio-assessment program, and RAND continued its ongoing evaluation of the program's implementation, effects, and data quality. While the first year's study found evidence of the impact of the assessment program and low reliability of portfolio scoring, this year's…

A study used four statistical item bias analysis strategies to determine the French cross-cultural validity of the Maine Educational Assessment, a standardized test administered in six content areas to students in grades 4, 8, and 11. Analysis was performed on eighth grade pupil performance in test year 1988-89, in the areas of the 100 common…

This document consists of a compilation of 12 brief articles prepared as "fillers" for rural newsweeklies. Six of the briefs (the first six listed below) are provided in both English and Spanish language versions. These camera-ready slicks inform readers about current educational research and practice. "Starve an Addict, Feed a…

This packet contains the four quarterly newsletters published by the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit in England in 1988. The Winter issue contains the following articles: "Staff Accreditation"; "Afraid to Fail"; "Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Libraries: Potentials Realised"; and "Literacy Work with Local Employers." The Spring issue…

The Cooke County College and Gainesville Independent School District (Texas) jointly offer students the opportunity to obtain 4 full years of electronics training--2 in high school and 2 in college--through an articulation agreement. This "2 + 2" program gives students two options from which to choose depending upon their career goals:…

In January 1989, a survey was conducted of a national sample of public and private two-year and community colleges regarding aspects of their science, mathematics, engineering, and technology programs. The survey requested information on the prevalence of course and program offerings, the number and educational level of faculty, use of part-time…

This collection of four papers deals with problem solving and the measurement of problem solving. "Climbing Up the Competence Ladder: Some Thoughts on Meaningful Assessment of Problem-Solving Tasks in the Classroom" by K. C. Cheung uses the metaphor of a competence ladder to represent the problem-solving continuum with progressive…

Illinois State University and University of Illinois faculty collaborated to pilot test and evaluate Applied Academics curricula in Illinois. Three sets of pilot sites included the following: (1) 14 local education agencies that pilot tested Applied Communications and/or Mathematics; (2) 10 sites at which vocational teachers collaborated with…

This manual presents a guide to enhancing elementary school level mathematics and science education for minorities in order to improve their chances of advancing in an educational program that will enable them to enter employment in technical fields. In particular, the manual aims to fulfill the following purposes: (1) review the role of the…

A brief summary is given of the rationale for each of the six National Education Goals announced by President Bush and the nation's governors in February 1990, and measures to meet each goal are proposed. To meet goal 1, readiness for school, measures related to the following issues are included: prenatal care, parent education, health care, and…

How two students with the same number-correct score, calculated by dramatically different patterns of responses, can achieve the same ability estimate is demonstrated. The present study investigated the incidence of person misfit to the model in a nationally standardized test of achievement devised using the Rasch item response theory model. It…

This report offers details of the results of basic skills testing of the entering freshman class in New Jersey's public colleges. Levels of proficiency in verbal skills, computation, and elementary algebra are estimated from performance on the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test. For the 48,568 students tested in the fall of 1990, 24%…