A survey of engineering students (436 responses) who participated in either an academic research or a cooperative work program found that both programs strongly influenced participants' skills, job values, and life objectives. Cooperative employment influenced students' skills and career decisions, and research experience influenced values and…

Describes a study conducted comparing a composite of Asian students with a profile of the general student population in the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). Indicates that, although Asian students in the NCCCS came from the same socioeconomic background as the general population, their educational goals were more transfer and…

A discussion of graduate teaching assistants looks at two issues: (1) the historical rationale for their use, and (2) the training available to them. Content of training materials from 31 major universities was analyzed for the kinds of training offered and the extent to which university policy and specific pedagogical information was included.…

This article reviews the development of measures that assess mobility and discusses the use of such measures in the study of factors influencing travel in natural travel environments. It traces the development of measures related to spatial orientation, provides a review of orientation research, and suggests areas for future research. (SM)

C. S. Dweck's achievement goals model was tested by examining relationships between individual differences in achievement-goal tendencies and perceived causality for 123 undergraduates (45 males and 78 females). The stronger each performance-goal tendency, the more unstable and controllable low ability was perceived. Inconsistencies with Dweck's…

The article presents an approach to instructional design for mainstreamed students with and without mild disabilities, stressing functionality in a three-step procedure: (1) select what the student (general, gifted, learning disabled, or mildly retarded) needs to learn; (2) determine its functional value; and (3) decide how best to teach the…

A program for teaching orientation and mobility to New York City public school students with severe sensory and cognitive impairments incorporates tactile and tangible communication systems and embeds mobility education in students' daily school and home activities. This paper examines necessary prerequisite concepts and offers planning and…

Interviews with 55 new lecturers at an Australian university focused upon early experiences in the institution and attitudes regarding teaching and student evaluations. Among findings were that help in learning about the institution and special consideration in workload favored the more academically qualified while help in solving problems favored…

Describes theory and a research program that uses guided reflection to promote the development of mentor teachers. Significant findings from a quasi-experimental study and a replication study are presented. The paper can assist teacher educators, policymakers, and school personnel who are searching for a teacher induction model. (GLR)

Traditional assessment of student progress focuses on product and emphasizes only the academic aspects of student development. Teachers are often frustrated by the teach-test-report model, since grades cannot truly reflect a student's progress. A Canadian secondary school teacher's experience with grade-2 cooperative learning helped restructure…

Parents of college students are often an untapped resource. Recommends developing a comprehensive, intentional plan to work with these constituents in university career centers. For University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, parents have proven to be strong allies in promoting career planning and financially supporting the many needs of the…

At Montpelier (Vermont) High School, faculty members, in collaboration with University of Vermont colleagues, received a federal U.S. Department of Education grant to make personalized learning plans based on students' strengths and goals a reality for disabled and nondisabled students. The process empowered students and enhanced family…

For the past 5 years, a large high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has attempted to provide an advising program for students based on the premise that constructive student/adult relationships can enhance learning. Students learn to challenge themselves academically and explore healthy alternatives when facing adversity. (MLH)

Explores how gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are integrated into society. The sexual minority youth of today have greater opportunities for development and acceptance than older gays and lesbians had, however, gay youth are still at high risk for confusion, societal pressure, and feelings of self-destruction and isolation. (EMS)

In a high-quality professional development system, goals are student-centered, focused on learning, and incorporated into teachers' daily routine. School boards can foster this model by ensuring that professional development is aligned with student learning needs and district improvement plans and by providing sufficient resources. (MLH)