This guide is designed to link New York's learning standards with curriculum goals and objectives developed by adult education (AE) practitioners. It includes learning standards for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, two areas identified by AE practitioners as the most important for beginning adult learners. Also provided are curriculum…

This paper summarizes work from a dissertation that examines the determinants of public school performance, focusing on the roles of incentives and parental involvement. The thesis presents theory and related empirics. In the theory, it analyzes the effects of competition on public school productivity, with and without parental involvement, as…

This study investigated the association between college students' engagement of learning strategies and their academic performance in a freshman psychology course. Three groups of students participated in the study: 22 at-risk freshmen who were taught learning strategies in a linked strategy-instruction course; 22 students who had previously taken…

Noting studies showing a critical link between students' relation to the school environment and their academic performance, attendance, attitudes, motivation, and post-high school success, particularly for at-risk students, this guide compiles widely recognized strategies to develop students' sense of connection to their school environment. The…

This is the first annual Results Report for the Illinois Community College System. For each of the six statewide goals, the report provides information on stated Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and college priorities, common and individual college initiatives and actions, and state-level initiatives that support the goal. ICCB staff review…

Until recently, fathers were the hidden parents in research on children's well-being. Research stimulated by the new interest in fathers suggests that fathers' involvement in their children's schools does make a difference in their children's education. Using data from the 1996 National Household Education Survey (NHES:96), this Digest looks at…

Determined relationships between college/secondary earth science teachers' confidence in ability to teach field-based earth science cognitive objectives and perceived sources of that confidence, discussing objectives teachers felt confident/unconfident in teaching. Indicates that inservice education ranked behind preservice education or teaching…

Surveyed student attitudes on modes of testing and evaluation. Data from 476 college students revealed that multiple-choice test items and short answer essays were most preferred. Found grade point average related to study habits and preparation for and determinant of student preferences regarding tests. (Author/JAC)

Compared conventional biology instruction to personalized system of instruction (PSI) and investigated relationship between achievement and selected variables (age, sex, family income/size, grade point average, motivational factors, treatment group, and California Achievement Test scores) of college students (N=80). Results, among others, indicate…

Determined extent to which eighth-grade students' (N=35) knowledge of concepts relevant to mineral classification influenced their ability to classify minerals and which concepts were most influential. Results showed that 58.7% of variance in correct mineral classification was accounted for by students' knowledge of relevant concepts, particularly…

Describes the analytical procedure, contextual analysis. Suggests ways to use it to assess the group effects of residence arrangement on student development. Provides an empirical example that shows how contextual analysis may be used to identify the specific dimensions underlying residence group influences on freshman academic performance.…

Results of considering the "at rest" condition of an object with two high school physics classes suggest three instructional factors which apparently aid in the development of students' concepts of force. Includes implications for teaching and an example of a technique fostering concept development. (Author/JN)

Thought papers, research findings, and program descriptions pertaining to science education are presented. Topics include inservice education for primary science, curriculum development, factors affecting science provision for 10- to 14-year-olds, science programs for the gifted, thinking in science lessons, and the nature of scientific knowledge.…

The relationship between anxiety and learning was examined within the context of drive theory and trait-state anxiety theory. Results indicated that trait anxiety had a causal influence on state anxiety and on test performance. The possibility of a reciprocal relationship between state anxiety and performance was suggested. (Author/BH)

A critical review of research on school effectiveness is presented. The research findings are applied in a discussion of the issues of quality of education, resource allocation, and public policies. (JN)