Described is an innovative social studies testing procedure which motivates study and learning by developing student ability for independent thinking. The procedure is entitled The Document-based Essay Question (DBQ). Information on developing DBQs is presented and examples are provided. (DB)

Recommends that a few behavioral objectives be included for skill development in many teacher education courses, but that behavioral objectives and competency-based teacher education be generally de-emphasized in favor of developing competent teachers. A framework for accomplishing educational improvement is presented. (Author/DB)

This article examines the relevance of training and skills development to modern librarianship in the first generation universities in Nigeria. The developments noticed in this sector in the universities within the past decade made it imperative to have new workers with new skills to adopt to the many changes that have taken place that are likely…

The increasing accessibility of information and knowledge through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) has helped many countries in the region to developing their economies. ICT has not only shaped many facets of modern learning and living, but also in bringing about social change and enhancement of human intellectual…

The primary objective of this book is to help higher education and student affairs graduate students as well as current higher education and student affairs professionals practice and refine thinking skills needed to resolve diversity-related issues and problems on college and university campuses. Within each chapter the author has included case…

This research paper was developed after completing and publishing articles using the Balanced Scorecard as a means of achieving strategic objectives of over twenty destination ski resorts. We believe the balanced scorecard idea is essentially a new model of the way the world works and should be conceptualized. Our research has helped answer a…

How might the Tishman, Perkins, and Jay framework (the Harvard Model) for creating a culture of thinking be put to work in an urban high school? 150 English II students are co-creating a culture of thinking at a public high school in Washington, DC along with two facilitators (a collaborating teacher and an educational psychologist). Together,…

We use heterogeneity in the timing of television's introduction to different local markets to identify the effect of preschool television exposure on standardized test scores later in life. Our preferred point estimate indicates that an additional year of preschool television exposure raises average test scores by about .02 standard deviations. We…

Efficacy and its effects upon student achievement need nourishment. For a student to believe that he/she can and therefore does achieve needs fostering continuously within each student in the curriculum. With the tremendous emphasis being placed on reading instruction and student achievement by legislators and governors of individual states,…

This newsletter covers educational issues affecting schools in the Western Regional Educational Laboratory's 4-state region (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah) and nationwide. The following articles appear in the Volume 4, Number 1 issue: (1) "The Roots of Reading"; (2) "Breaking the Code: Reading Literacy in K-3"; (3)…

This digest outlines the reasons for and challenges of developing the language skills of heritage language speakers and describes one effort to carry this out, the Heritage Languages Initiative. Specific sections address the following: developing language skills of U.S. residents; the range of language proficiencies of heritage language speakers;…

Graphical representations play an important role in both science and mathematics education. Graphs can summarize very complex information or relationships very effectively. Although graphs are explicitly taught in mathematics classrooms as an end in themselves, many subject areas such as science or social studies utilize graphs to represent and…

The importance of addressing the career- and life-planning needs of Canadian children and adolescents has emerged as a prominent theme in recent studies. Studies of adolescents demonstrate that they are proactive and future-oriented and want to gain information and skills to help prepare them for the transition to adulthood. The purpose of this…

This report discusses the outcomes of a project that examined the acquisition and use of voice output communication aids in naturally occurring routines by four young children (ages 3-5) with autism. The effects of naturalistic teaching and the use of voice output communication aids (VOCAs) on communicative behaviors of the participants as well as…

This paper contains an overview of policy decisions being made at the state and national levels about learning assistance activities in higher education and developmental education. The principles driving those decisions are also outlined. Some policymakers want to fine the high schools from which under prepared students have graduated; others…