A study investigated the results of previous studies on the effectiveness of pictorial instruction, specifically examining whether the use of black-and-white pictorial instruction as a supplement to verbal instruction is more effective than the use of verbal instruction alone. Thirty-four studies on pictorial instruction that varied widely but…

Energy issues have been the focus of scientists, science educators, politicians, historians, sociologists, and economists since the increase in fuel costs, passing of federal regulations on oil prices, changes in automobile standards, and increase in conservation measures. Many feel that educators have the responsibility of designing energy…

This report examines how periods of poverty affect children's educational attainment. Educational attainment is measured by whether a student is at or behind the modal grade level expected for each given age. A cross-tabular analysis was performed on a sample of 16-, 17- and 18-year-old children who were in high school at some point during the…

This planning paper offers background information and recommendations for the establishment of a research center for the study of educating the disadvantaged. It is based on a seminar comprised of educational researchers held to consider how low achieving students can best be helped. The research agenda for such a center should consider the…

Repertory grid technique and extensive interviews were used to investigate the personal constructs of mathematics and mathematics teaching held by four preservice secondary mathematics teachers. Kelly's Personal Construct Theory and Perry's developmental scheme provided frameworks for analysis of the experiential, pedagogical, and mathematical…

This study probed children's reasoning about both correct and incorrect but plausible statements of hypothetical children concerning the concepts of subtraction, with the intention of examining misconceptions in greater depth. Eight third graders, 14 fourth graders, and 14 fifth graders were interviewed individually to assess their understanding…

Five papers on the assessment of writing ability presented at the Division D meeting are critiqued. It is suggested that it is not possible to conclude--as has Larson in his study of grades 4, 6, and 8--that National Assessment of Educational Progress results do not give evidence of growth in writing ability. Dovell and Buhr, examining approaches…

The purpose of this forum was the assessment of how well current research is meeting the needs of rural educators. Individual papers presented at the forum are "Learning To Find the 'Niches': Rural Education and Vitalizing Rural Communities" by Daryl Hobbs with commentary by Richard Tulikangas; "Effective Rural Schools: Where Are We? Where Are We…

This paper reviews staff development research related to rural schools. Only a limited number of studies have described, or evaluated the effects of, particular staff development programs in rural schools, or have assessed the perceived needs of rural faculty and administrators for inservice training. However, rural educators can draw implications…

This paper presents results from a study of 19 teacher education students' knowledge of mathematics and discusses an analytic framework for examing and appraising teachers' and prospective teachers' subject matter knowledge. Participants in the study were 10 elementary education majors and 9 mathematics majors or minors who were preparing to teach…

Four high school special education teachers in the Vocational Education Program in the South Bend Community School Corporation participated in a mathematics program. They then conducted classroom research related to their inservice activities with their mildly handicapped students. Teachers used manipulative materials in their inservice sessions…

A project was designed to produce a listing of selected international governmental and non-governmental organizations with an adult education component. Of the 155 organizations surveyed, 76 responded and 45 completed the survey instrument. Categories 1 through 4 of the survey instrument asked for information regarding programs, activities,…

A study was conducted to determine if computers are viable alternatives to textbooks for teaching spelling and related skills at the third grade level and to compare the change in attitude toward spelling of students in a computer assisted program with that of students in a textbook learning program. The 18 experimental and 18 control group…

Together in one volume are the essential points of nine national education reports that are most often referred to and discussed, plus a review of a report concerning vocational education. Chapters present and synthesize the major findings and recommendations of the national reports, according to the area of focus--goals and instruction, for…

Eight papers, each presented at one of three conferences sponsored by the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), are published together in this collection. It provides an overview of the current interest in developing nations in the role of administration in educational development, particularly as that role involves the…