A science teacher and her mentor reflect on their participation in the Learning Research Cycle, a professional learning model that bridges research and practice in both university and public school contexts. Teachers do scientific research in scientists' laboratories, then bridge their scientific experiences with the design of new classroom…

Echoing the current emphasis on examining changes in teacher beliefs, combined with the central role of inquiry in reform, this article argues that science "education" research experiences should hold promise in shaping preservice teachers' beliefs about the role of inquiry in understanding classroom science teaching. The aim of this…

The GPS LifePlan is an interactive resource that helps students succeed in reaching their career, education and personal goals. GPS stands for "GOALS + PLANS = SUCCESS". http://gpslifeplan.org This holistic academic and student development program provides a structure for students to define their goals and helps them establish plans to…

Twenty-two elementary and middle school teachers were studied over the course of a school year as they implemented cooperative learning structures in their classrooms. Twelve of the teachers did peer coaching and 10 did not. The teachers participated in 2 days of staff development to learn six specific cooperative structures and to learn and…

In this qualitative study, minority students were interviewed about the competition they felt in their high school. Purposes of the study were to investigate whether African American and Mexican American students engaged in academic competition, to describe their subjective experiences of competition in high schools, and to describe their…

This qualitative case study examined the effects of a special collaborative program by the University of California (UC) at Riverside and a local high school to prepare Latino youth for eligibility for higher education. The study also involved a theoretical analysis of institutional changes brought about through implementation of the…

This exploratory study integrated information from quantitative and qualitative data sources to highlight how different students responded to, and learned from, case-based instruction. Fifty-eight first-year veterinary students, enrolled in a biochemistry laboratory course which utilized case studies as one of the primary methods of instruction,…

This paper summarizes findings of a 3-year study assessing outcomes for 35 children (preschool to high school aged) with mild to severe disabilities in inclusive educational settings. Additionally, the study looked at "connected" pairs of children--each pair including a child with and a child without a disability. It identified three main areas of…

Qualitative cross-case methodology was employed to explore the experiences of two gifted students with cerebral palsy. The following questions were investigated: (1) In what ways do these students show their intellectual abilities? and (2) What instructional strategies or techniques were especially beneficial in developing these abilities? One…

Part of a larger study examining family involvement in children's special education programs, this study looked at the involvement of 9 fathers in the special education programs of their children (ages 5 to 16). Individual interviews and focus groups were employed to gather data. Three main themes emerged from analysis of interview and focus group…

This paper considers the value of the self-study perspective and discusses quality factors in self-study research by educators. The context of the paper is the experience of the Self Study of Teacher Education Practices (SSTEP) special interest group. Reasons for increasing interest in self-study among teachers and teacher educators include its…

The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) workbook is intended to assist institutions of higher education conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluations of their financial aid operations in relation to requirements of Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The workbook provides a structured approach for incorporating a cyclical Title IV QA system into…

Data on the implementation of state-mandated portfolio assessment guidelines were collected in a class of 25 fourth-grade students in a Kentucky urban school, using participant observation, interviews, and document analysis. The use of computers as word processors was found to facilitate students' ability to read their work aloud to their class,…

Huddersfield University Library (England) has undertaken a wide range of evaluative studies of its services and systems, using various data collection techniques such as: user surveys; exit interviews; online and CD-ROM analysis; benchmarking; user groups; staffing and staff development evaluation; suggestion sheets; student project work; group…

This qualitative study explored the professional socialization experiences of doctoral students enrolled in the school of education at a public research university with emphasis on the graduate assistantship as a mechanism for doctoral students' professional socialization, and the effect of financial concerns on graduate students' socialization…