This study of college students examined the effects of motivation to learn to use computers, and previous experience with computers, on three computer-related affective states: anxiety, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Discusses gender differences, path analysis, effects on academic performance, and intrinsic versus extrinsic reasons for taking the…

Assessed Oakland University's elementary-teacher-preparation program to determine aspects of the program that most affected students' preparation to teach in diverse classrooms. Pre- and post-semester surveys of student teachers placed in urban/suburban schools indicated that students learned adequate skills for teaching diverse students, but…

Interviews 20 vocational high school students about school and family histories, present school experiences, and reflections about their literacy histories. Discusses three themes that emerged: connections and disconnections between home and school literacy practices (and resulting frustrations and failures); difficulties meeting standards set by…

A study of 26 Asian-American students with learning disabilities in grades K-5 found that although the district policies reflected desired professional practices, there were no guidelines for documenting how variables such as second-language acquisition, culture, socioeconomic status, and other differences were accommodated. Policy recommendations…

A study of 451 Navajo youths attending 11 high schools in the Navajo Nation found no relationship between their academic achievement and their cultural attachments and practices. Families modestly influenced educational outcomes, but being female was a stronger predictor of academic success. An appendix describes study variables. (Contains 42…

Examined cross-cultural mentoring of ethnic minority doctoral students (proteges) in special education programs, noting the role of mentoring in preparing proteges for higher education faculty positions. Protege and mentor interviews indicated that cross-cultural mentoring was crucial in preparing ethnic minorities for faculty positions. All…

Investigated how program types and designs influenced student access to academic discourse in high school English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms using traditional, sheltered content, bilingual content, and holistic approaches. Notes language use according to gender. Students were granted differential access, by gender, to the amount and…

Discusses the inappropriate referral of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students for speech-language therapy. Preassessment considerations that should be considered and the interrelatedness of culture, language, and communication as they impact on an individual learner's behavior are explained. Culturally appropriate assessment…

Examines the short-lived imposition by the Singaporean government of religious knowledge as a compulsory subject for upper secondary students. The original required course contained six options: Bible knowledge, Islamic religious knowledge, Buddhist studies, Confucian ethics, Hindu studies, and Sikh studies. The course became optional in 1989.…

Explores the conflicting cultural perspectives associated with studying English, drawing on two studies of Mexican students. P. Ryan (1994) studied the perceptions of culture related to language learning for six college teachers and their urban students. N. Francis (1994) studied the perceptions of rural bilingual (Spanish/Nahuatl) elementary…

Explores consequences of the gendered division of labor in Canadian university faculties of education. Interviewees reported working hard but feeling disappointed by the results. Argues that this is related to the academic reward system and to expectations of harder work from women. Explores individual and structural explanations of the findings.…

Study investigated academic, social, attitudinal, and behavioral influences on student borrowing, using a sample from a national longitudinal study, with attention to labor market data, in predicting student borrowing behavior. Results show substantial differences between dependent and independent students in attitudes toward loans and debt…

Discussion of library education in New Zealand focuses on the cultural clash between government control of education and university autonomy, as well as the clash between an indigenous people and a culture introduced from outside. Topics include nationwide higher education reform; distance education; quality assurance, including strategic…

Analysis of data from the National Education Longitudinal Study supported the thesis that rural adolescents' disadvantages with regard to certain family and school resources and resulting low investments in education explain rural deficits in both educational attainment and standardized achievement. (Contains 67 references.) (Author/SV)

A youngster failing to thrive in one environment needs an alternative learning situation. Research shows that small, personalized schools offering authentic, engaging curricula are essential for reaching unsuccessful learners. The test-score craze can be contained by publicizing other numbers regarding consequences: absence rates, dropouts,…