Pre-written, supporting conversational programs written in BASIC are available for use in introductory statistics courses designed for college undergraduates and high school seniors. (MM)

Investigates students' abilities to draw inferences. Introduces cognitive conflict in the form of video clips of reasoning expressed by students. Documents change with regard to the levels of observed response for the protocol and the use of displayed variation in the graphs. Analyzes change associated with the presentation of cognitive conflict.…

A secondary analysis of the National Assessment of Educational Progress was conducted to provide insight into ethnic differences in 12th-grade math achievement. Variables central to the three conditions model of achievement accounted for 45%-50% of the variance. The implications of these results for theories of ethnic differences and for reform…

Conducted three controlled studies involving progressive relaxation (PR). Subjects included 40 tenth graders (Study 1), 113 eighth graders (Study 2), and 30 eleventh and twelfth graders (Study 3). Found regular practice with PR produced reductions in both physiological and paper-and-pencil dependent measures; expectancy effects could result in…

Presents results of a survey of high school seniors exploring what instructional activities they preferred as a means of learning citizenship education. Explains that the eight citizenship education activities used were derived from eight citizenship teaching approaches. Reports that students preferred activities based on current events,…

High school students (n=80) read two passages from each of three domains of career literature: short stories, formal literature, and popular literature. Both reading skill and cognitive development were related to extent to which adolescents appreciated three passages which presented career information. Reported need for information to make career…

Describes four 50-minute lessons in which complex numbers are introduced to year-12 calculus students using hand-held calculators and laptop computers. (ASK)

Interviews 8th- and 12th-grade adolescent tobacco users, as part of a larger study on adolescents' reasons for tobacco use. Finds that: students perceive school systems to be hypocritical and to be sending contradictory messages regarding the use of tobacco; and the reward/punishment structure of public school systems may not be effective in…

Previous research has shown that--due to the extensive attention spent to proportional reasoning in mathematics education--many students have a strong tendency to apply linear or proportional models anywhere, even in situations where they are not applicable. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the "illusion of linearity". For example, in…

This paper advances a cross-contextual understanding of authoritative socialization, a concept developed by family researchers. Using data from the High School Effectiveness Study, I use multilevel modeling to test the effect of high school socialization style on student disengagement from 10th to 12th grades, controlling for both the…

Technology is evolving and now some secondary classrooms see students using computer algebra systems (CAS), however, Zbiek (2003) points out that "graphical representations seem to abound in CAS-using classrooms" and "many [research] studies of the use of CAS depend highly on the graphing component of the tool". Kissane (2001) suggests that with…

This study contributes to understanding sources of gender differential item functioning (DIF) on mathematics tests. This study focused on identifying sources of DIF and differential bundle functioning for boys and girls on the British Columbia Principles of Mathematics Exam (Grade 12) using a confirmatory SIBTEST approach based on a…

Even though simple line drawing by itself, has been found to be effective in improving learning visualization, it is not always sufficient for optimizing student achievement. Under these types of conditions it becomes necessary to incorporate other instructional strategies to complement the visualized instruction. Visuals allow for mental…

This study identified effective teachers of high-achieving Grade 12 students in New South Wales, Australia. Nineteen teachers, across a variety of curriculum areas, were observed teaching and then interviewed. A further six teachers were interviewed only. Despite the high-stakes end-of-schooling examination, generating interest in and…

In 2000, the New South Wales Board of Studies introduced new syllabi for Junior Science (years 7-10) and Senior Science subjects (years 11 and 12), i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth and Environmental Science (Geology). The structure of these courses is similar: it is based on a contextual perspective and is underpinned by a number of…