Interviews with 190 participants in Money Sense--a financial management education program based on the "master volunteer" approach--showed that the program taught them food shopping and money management skills and helped save money on food costs. Most experienced fewer financial problems and perceived their financial status as improved.…

Extension educators can increase the effectiveness of resource management programs for low income groups by (1) realizing that what works for middle income consumers may not necessarily work with other groups; (2) combining resources of service and educational agencies; and (3) mobilizing volunteers to multiply outreach efforts. (SK)

A New York State middle-high school course on gerontology was evaluated through a survey of 1,276 family and consumer sciences teachers (318 responses). Only a small number have incorporated the gerontology elective, many who teach aging topics spend one week or less on them, and a small range of topics is covered. (SK)

Interprets economic education broadly as any activity in which students think about economic reasoning and consider how people behave in an economical manner. Observes that, using this definition, economic education is widely practiced in Japanese elementary schools. Looks at the national Course of Study to illustrate the argument. (DSK)

Although there is a strong case for teaching economics at the middle school level, there are practical hurdles to making that goal a reality. Academic economists, who are well trained in economic theory and its applications, are not trained, generally, in the theory and application of effective curriculum development and teaching methods for the…

Hispanic Americans are the largest- and fastest growing minority group in the U.S., yet their higher education enrollment and graduation rates lag behind those of other ethnic groups. In the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at New Mexico State University, 42% of students are Hispanic. Of the students who graduate each year, 40% are…

In the selective contracting era, consumer choice has generally been absent in most state Medicaid programs, including California's (called Medi-Cal). In a setting where beneficiary exit is not a threat, a large payer may have both the incentives and the ability to exercise undue market power, potentially exposing an already vulnerable population…

This report discusses child-care needs and consumer education for low-income families, the types and value of information they receive when participating in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, the different approaches to child-care consumer education, case studies on the child-care practices that are detrimental as well as those…

This annotated bibliography of resources for family and consumer science teachers lists 59 items developed for "Teacher Pages" (an electronic information service) by Penn State Cooperative Extension Service between December 1, 1993 and December 1, 1994. Each listing includes a short description, source, address, price if appropriate, and…

This study was intended to identify unmet telecommunications education needs of residents in south central, southeast, and southwest Los Angeles, together with the border communities in the cities of Inglewood and South Gate; identify the level of sophistication of the average consumer regarding the usefulness or need of specific…

Despite the emphasis on improving physician-consumer communication, patients, families and friends of patients, and other consumers still report frustrations during communication interactions with physicians. Some of those problems could be alleviated by more physician training in effective communication. Others could be alleviated by reducing the…

This one-page consumer education materials evaluation form has been developed as a checklist for developers and users of business-sponsored educational materials. Criteria listed include issues such as target audience, design, and usability as well as objectivity and how the business sponsor is identified. The form is intended to prevent…

This pamphlet presents guidelines that have been developed to help business sponsors make the most effective use of available resources in the development of materials for consumer education and information to help consumers become better decision makers in the marketplace and to become more participatory citizens. The guide outlines the steps…

This is a teacher's guide to secondary school mathematics. Developed for use in the Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Florida. Areas of mathematics covered are algebra, analysis, calculus, computer literacy, computer science, geometry, analytic geometry, general mathematics, consumer mathematics, pre-algebra, probability and statistics,…