Data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 showed that factors influencing female entry into male-dominated higher education programs included academic ability, more high school courses in mathematics and science, and work-oriented attitudes, but not family influence. (MH)

Examines a visual art program for at-risk students that attempts to increase self-esteem, stimulate inquiry, and develop critical thinking through art criticism and self- expression. Summarizes the responses of 11 at-risk students and 35 general education college students to the question, "What is art?" (MJP)

Investigates the relationships between the characteristics of a parenting model and children's school outcomes. Utilizes interviews to identify and define parenting styles. Discovers that parenting styles affect academic achievement and school attitudes but do little to influence the relationship between intellectual ability and school outcomes.…

The Ann Arbor Public Schools and University of Michigan partnership created the Foundations of Science (FOS) course, designed to integrate the high school science sequence into a three-year project based upon real-life science investigations. Specially designed software, information technology, and Internet resources were utilized. Student…

Reintroduces and updates the geographic profile as a visualization technique for representing and analyzing the structure of geographical information. A computer software-generated profile focuses on specific information (persons per square mile in selected cities) and represents that information spatially on a graph. (MJP)

Several issues associated with equating and interpreting reading test scores from two different measures of achievement are discussed. The discussion is based on an investigation assessing the impact of classroom functional/ability grouping on academic performance of 5,439 special educational students in elementary, middle, and high schools. (TJH)

This study examined academic performance, indebtedness, delayed graduation, and predictors of licensing exam performance of 140 Asian-American and 2,269 white graduates of the Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania). Results found that the Medical College Admission Test reading score was the major predictor of later performance for Asian-American…

Describes 4 activities for levels K-2, 3-5, 4-6, and 6-8 and a family activity that asks students to describe their community; use coordinates to represent the 4 voyages of Columbus; write a story based on a line graph of Lewis and Clark's expedition; determine serving sizes for astronauts in space; and investigate different modes of…

Presents a discussion illustrating student reasoning while using LOGO to draw tilted squares and rectangles. Suggests that teachers recognize that many students use visual imagery to reason and discuss visual reasoning with students. Gives examples of tasks to promote discussion. (MDH)

Sex differences in variability in the national norms of the Differential Aptitude Tests, Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/Scholastic Aptitude Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, and California Achievement Tests were examined. Compared to females, males were consistently more variable in quantitative reasoning, spatial visualization,…

Describes a study of sixth and seventh grade students that investigated the effects of cooperative group composition, student ability, and learning accountability on achievement, interaction, and instructional efficiency during computer-based instruction. Pretests and posttests are described, data analysis is explained, and recommendations for…

Explores the use of ability grouping as a guideline for educational decision making. Ability grouping is often detrimental because it may foster segregation and poor teaching and lower students' self-esteem. Some studies demonstrate a slight positive effect on achievement. Higher ability students may derive more academic benefit from grouping.…

A study with 28 fourth graders, 30 eighth graders, and 30 college students demonstrates that the relationship between knowledge of the requirements of a globally coherent essay and the ability to produce such an essay generally remains statistically significant when the effect of grade level is removed. (SLD)

Contends that tracking students by assumed ability level does not substantially benefit high achievers and that it tends to put low achievers at a serious disadvantage. Further asserts that tracking in primary and secondary schools stigmatizes and inhibits opportunities of success for disadvantaged and minority students. (24 citations) (VWC)

Describes factors that hold promise for recruiting and retaining minority students in gifted education programs, including having equitable, culturally sensitive screening and identification instruments and procedures; providing minority students with a quality education; addressing problems that interfere with minority students' achievement; and…