The Steps to Self-Determination curriculum model focuses on knowing oneself, valuing oneself, planning, acting, experiencing outcomes, and learning. It has been tested with 77 high school students having a variety of disabilities. Two related scales have also been developed: the Self-Determination Observation Checklist and the Self-Determination…

Considers recent investigations of conditions that promote forward-thinking in young people and their realization of personal goals. Discusses environmental affordance, environmental press, mediational strategies, consequence management, and resources for coping. Suggests ways educators may help individuals develop potentials for foresight and…

Relations of social-goal pursuit to social acceptance by teachers and peers, prosocial and irresponsible classroom behavior, and perceived support from teachers and peers were examined for 475 sixth and seventh graders. Findings reflected, in part, significant relationships between social-goal pursuit and displays of social behavior. (SLD)

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews with parents of 15 students with cognitive disabilities regarding their transition from school to adult life. Results indicate that parents have a vision for their child's future and measure the quality of school services and transitional services by how their child is succeeding in realizing that…

Examined differences in children's perceptions of school tasks. Found that even kindergarten children are able to understand the learning purpose of tasks if teachers include that information in their lesson presentations. Results suggest that in order to motivate children's learning, teachers should emphasize the learning aspects of tasks, and…

Reports on a study that examined determinants of intrinsic motivation in a British physical education teacher education course. Finds that both perceived autonomy and competence had effects on intrinsic motivation. Discusses the importance of creating perceptions of autonomy among student teachers. (CFR)

Asserts that increased attention to marginalized groups in college political science courses is long overdue. Introduces a series of six brief articles describing how to incorporate these groups into the curriculum. Includes articles on gender, race, and sexual orientation issues. (CFR)

Stresses that student-centered teaching must foster the whole student. Presents a developmental model involving setting goals in courses and interactive teaching/learning strategies to create a student-centered classroom. Describes sample course goals for developing and evaluating student maturity, and argues for a model addressing self, values,…

The 115 African-American and other nontraditional medical students attending a summer program in study skills and academic preparation to promote achievement and retention were compared with 82 nonattendees on demographic and academic measures. Little difference was found in the groups, except that attendees felt the program helped them adjust to…

A recent National Center for Education Statistics survey indicates inadequate administrative support as the main reason for teacher attrition. In a 1990-91 National Education Association survey, teachers cite incompetent and uncooperative administrators as the greatest hindrance to job performance. Other dissatisfiers include insufficient…

On measures of ability to improve writing quality, motivation to write, confidence in writing, and attitudes toward writing, 29 middle level students classified as mastery oriented consistently scored higher than 21 students classified as helpless. The 66 students classified as neither mastery oriented nor helpless had mean scores between the…

This study investigated four beginning special educators' problems of practice and the influence of the school context on teachers' abilities to solve their problems. Participants were troubled by issues related to instruction and curriculum, understanding the system, inclusion, and exhaustion. Teachers received little support from general…

Investigated Texas teacher educators' cultural attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of institutional support for culture-fair policies, examining race, gender, sexual orientation, and social class. Surveys indicated that cultural bias was limited. Most bias related to sexual orientation. Cultural attitudes were less biased than cultural…

Reports a case study of how organizational culture relates to the issue of sexual orientation at a Catholic college, focusing on cultural barriers facing lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals and the cultural dynamics that contribute to the failure to change the culture of the institution. Implications are drawn for practitioners and suggestions…

Research on the hypothesized relationship between sexual orientation and suicide is limited. National or statewide data on frequency and causes of completed suicide in gay and lesbian people do not exist. Methodological limitations in research literature include lack of consensus on definition of key terms, nonrepresentative samples, and lack of…