A report on innovations in the teaching of engineering at West Virginia University and the effects these have had on student performance is presented. (BB)

Learners of English as a foreign language at a Lebanese university (n=135) completed measures of forms of instruction (cooperative, individualistic, competitive), classroom climate, and English achievement. A moderate positive correlation was found between cooperative learning and perceptions of grading fairness, class cohesion, and social…

Because of the diverse proficiency ranges among his students, a foreign language professor twice covered the content of a semester-long introductory Spanish course, allowing more proficient students to complete the course at mid-term and retainng less proficient students to re-review difficult areas. (CB)

Describes a study conducted to examine whether personal and educational variables could be used to predict differences between students attending a tutoring center once and those attending more often. Indicates that perceptions of caring in the tutoring center and tutor/student relationship and transfer of learning were significant in predicting…

Discusses the term microworld; develops a conceptual framework to analyze the sense in which the world metaphor may or may not hold; and describes a study of high school physics students working individually with the computer microworld "Elmira" that was conducted to analyze how their thinking was worldlike. (Contains 11 references.)…

Examines the use of prediction during the silent reading of short stories with surprise endings. Investigates the effects of instructional setting and content familiarity upon overall reading comprehension, literal comprehension, inferential comprehension, and interest. Finds that both inferential comprehension and interest were negatively…

The relative effectiveness of group and individual instruction for teaching daily living skills to students (ages 6-21) with severe handicaps was examined through 2 studies with 23 and 47 students. Results indicated no significant differences between the group and individual instruction formats. Teachers found the group procedures to be practical.…

Describes the six basic elements of personalized instruction: The dual teacher role (coach and advisor), diagnosing student learning characteristics, a culture of collegiality, interactive learning environments, flexible scheduling and pacing, and authentic assessment. (Contains 23 references.) (PKP)

Everybody is doing it: differentiating curriculum to make it deeper, broader, parallel, and more complex. No longer the private property of gifted specialists, differentiation is now a democratic pursuit of classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and anyone else who subscribes to "Educational Leadership." In an era of competency-based tests…

There are occasions at a busy reference desk when contact time with patrons is limited. A solution to this is to create a mediated reference search service where librarians can have the luxury of conducting extended reference interviews. One-on-one searching services can be very beneficial for library patrons, including students, staff,…

The purpose of a peer tutoring program is to assist those students who require ongoing and formal instruction in a subject area. If effectively run, it can have an impact on retention. There are five areas that need to be addressed when initiating a peer tutor program: (1) organization and funding; (2) supervision; (3) tutor training; (4) tutor…

This document presents a description and evaluation of the Skills Remediation in Reading for Optional Assignment Program (TOPS) conducted for 4,569 students in 27 high schools in New York City. The participants were Title I optional assignment students in grades 9 through 12, whose reading ability was a minimum of two years below grade level based…

Part of the monthly Saturday Review supplement, "Education in America, sponsored by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation.