A survey of Black students at Georgia State University found that first-year students tended to rate themselves as rigid thinkers and the second-year students did not, suggesting that students perceiving themselves as poor thinkers can become flexible thinkers with appropriate advising, counseling, and teaching activities. (MSE)

Responds to the results of Wilder et al. on Greek affiliation and attitude change in college students by: (1) examining goals for the educated person; (2) providing an overview of epigenesis; (3) giving possible developmental explanations of Wilder's findings; and (4) discussing ramifications of the results and suggestions for further research.…

Developing curriculum from a constructivist perspective helps students at all grade levels learn more effectively. The developmental abilities of children are stressed, and students are taught new information by connecting it with concepts they already know. The thoughtful mediation of the teacher is a critical component of constructivism. (MD)

A freshman course at the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Tennessee is described that mixes the academic and personal experiences in three areas: career exploration, human development, and the history of universities. (Author/MLW)

Explores student and teacher behavior in writing instruction as the "underlife" (behaviors that undercut the roles expected of participants in a situation) of the current educational system. Suggests that the identities students develop in writing classrooms are more conducive to academic success than the traditional identity of the…

Reviewed research published in the "Journal of Humanistic Education and Development" from 1981 to 1985. Concluded most research focused on emotional, social, and cognitive development among elementary, secondary, and college students, and on the work of teachers rather than counselors. Suggests future research should include clear…

Examined the relationship between early school retention as a result of preschool and kindergarten developmental testing and children's later academic achievement (N=223). Results showed children who scored as immature on the Gesell Screening Test and who were retained a year had the lowest scores on all measures. (JAC)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a practical tool for helping students understand some of the dynamics of how they communicate and approach the decision making process, is described as an instrument that can be a valuable source of information for students and advisors. (Author/MLW)

Examined perceived educational benefits in 560 older persons participating in 20 New England Elderhostel programs. Level of education completed and sex emerged as significant correlates of growth. Persons of lower socioeconomic and educational status reported greater levels of learning than did those with higher levels of income and education.…

Tested a path model reflecting developmental and chronic types of career indecision on counseling students (N=164) and high school students (N=155). Data from both samples supported the model, confirming the role of trait anxiety in career indecision. (JAC)

Discusses how computers can be used by student development educators for recruitment, referral, and retention. Provides examples of applications, programs, and hardware. (BH)

This literature review cautions that the issue of whether promotion or retention is more beneficial to student achievement is especially murky when it becomes a political decision. It concludes that grade retention seems to ignore the question of instructional effectiveness, blames the child for failure, and absolves the school of responsibility.…

Examined the effectiveness of the Magic Circle program in improving the self-concept of 19 first-grade students. Results showed that children in the experimental group had higher scores on both self-domain and self-concept measures than control students, indicating they better understood the elements of causality in human relationships. (JAC)

Describes a small group program in a nursing curriculum utilizing the Theme-Centered Interaction model, which attempts to combine and balance the cognitive, subjective-affective, and interactional modes. The method appears uniquely suited to the needs of student nurse clinicians who are expected to acquire and integrate psychomotor and affective…

Measured cognitive complexity in 76 college freshmen and tested them again four years later. Results showed most students made significant growth in conceptual level, particularly during the freshman year. No significant differences were found between cognitive complexity and gender, academic persistence, place of residence, or activities. (JAC)