A study examined whether a program of writing instruction based on peer feedback would improve writing better than instruction based on teacher feedback. It was hypothesized (1) that experimental peer feedback classes would perform better than control classes on certain writing achievement variables and would display more positive attitudes toward…

Three studies of cooperative problem solving among university students examined how to design effective computer-based support for collaborative learning in distance education. The first was a questionnaire study of 150 Open University students who had participated in three different courses in physics and mathematics. Its aim was to determine…

A student-oriented curriculum approach was developed at Edison Community College to encourage retention and sustain students' interest in classes. The five elements of the program are student tutoring, a tournament, attendance monitoring, relaxation training, and retention goals (STARR). The tutorial component involves study teams of four or five…

The study aims to answer the following questions: (1) What emotions do mothers show in their preschoolers' presence? (2) What are their children's reactions to these emotional displays? (3) How do mothers cope with these feelings? (4) How do mothers evaluate these incidents? (5) Do mothers' methods of coping predict children's adjustment? Twenty…

While clinical populations of obese children have been shown to possess negative self-images, little evidence exists that overweight children in non-clinical populations are discriminated against by their peers or possess negative psychological self-evaluations. A study was conducted to examine the relationship among body type, sociometric…

Influences on students' reported academic development over a 4-year period were assessed, focusing on college influences on student growth and changes each year. Tinto's model of college student attrition was found to account for about 23% of the variance in students' reports of their academic skill development over 4 years of college. For each…

To overcome teacher isolation and help make teaching a more attractive profession, educators might consider a peer support system based on the Stanford Collegial Evaluation Program. This paper describes the program's background, functioning, barriers to successful implementation, and how to neutralize them. The Stanford program uses a peer…

The paper presents an observational system for use in evaluating preschool handicapped children's social integration in mainstreamed classrooms. An adaptation of LeBlanc, Etzel, and Tyler's observational system, this model also employs White's system of evaluating affective tone. The method entails choosing a handicapped child in a classroom and a…

This paper, reviews the history of mainstreaming and the mixed results of its research base. Research findings on specific variables are outlined for consideration when integrating students with special needs. The variables discussed include: (1) academic achievement, which focuses on early identification of learning needs, and preparation for the…

A transactional evaluation of how foreign students at New Mexico State University feel about the quality of their education, and their relationship with the faculty and peers, was undertaken. The survey questions focused on faculty and staff, peer relations, textbook quality, and coursework relevancy toward academic achievement. Foreign students'…

Two studies on reintegration of behaviorally disordered (BD) students into general education classroom are presented. Part I, by S. Huntze, considers five basic assumptions underlying the concept of reintegration and the following five areas that need to be considered when matching student and classroom environment: physical setting, academic…

The manual is intended to help Florida teachers of homebound or hospitalized children cope with the unusual demands of the position. Difficulties faced by such teachers are noted, including low student motivation, parents' need for support, and a setting not conducive to learning. A brief history of homebound educational services is followed by an…

Ninety-two learning-disabled children, aged 5-13, participated in an evaluation of the efficacy of a television-based social problem-solving curriculum. The 52 children in the curriculum group viewed 10 episodes from the "Inside/Out" series and participated in teacher-led discussions. The episodes dealt with expressing feelings, making…

A theoretical framework for conceptualization and assessment of preadolescent children's coping in social situations is presented. The framework classifies responses to stressful social situations according to four categories, consisting of anxiety amplification, in which children focus on negative emotions concerning an event without attempting…

Through observational studies of 15 preschool and 15 public school first grade classrooms in Tokyo, Japan, an initial understanding of social control through education is presented. While Japanese preschool children are indulged and undisciplined by their parents, evidence suggests that Japanese school children are more attentive and spend less…