A study investigated the performance of 6 successive medical school classes on 80 standardized-patient case examinations, looking for effects of student or standardized-patient gender on scores. Results showed no interaction of any practical consequence. Cases with gender-related concern (e.g., breast problems) also did not differentiate between…

A study investigated whether the more efficiently graded extended-matching questions were equivalent to short-answer questions in evaluating medical students' (n=98) ability to elicit physical findings and generate diagnoses and treatment plans, using standardized-patient examinations. The differences found in the two question types did not favor…

The University of Illinois' National Center for Supercomputing Applications, a cooperative effort of the National Science Foundation, University of Illinois, the state, and industry, offers training and support services in the use of technologically advanced computing for scientific research. The computers simulate physical phenomena that are…

A media training program conducted for faculty and administrators at Seton Hall University (New Jersey) is described. The program has helped participants become more confident in speaking to media, enhanced the university's visibility, and built campus confidence in the public relations staff. Suggestions are made for selecting the target audience…

A rationale is presented for viewing the decision-making process inherent in determining budget reductions for educational programs as most effectively modeled by a graduated funding approach. The major tenets of the graduated budget reduction approach to educational fiscal policy include the development of multiple alternative reduction plans, or…

Dicusses three education "anchors" weighing students down: adherence to print, overreliance on facts, and one-way transmission of information. Appropriate computer software can enliven a boring classroom by streamlining repetitive tasks (like revising and editing) and encouraging interactive construction of ideas. (MLH)

This paper describes the development and evolution of a modular pharmacy practice course that uses practitioners as role-model instructors in prepared and impromptu scenarios. The course reviews the top 200 drug products while introducing students to both community and institutional practice settings. Appendices include a summary of the…

A study assessed the feasibility of sequential testing of medical students using standardized patients. Sequential testing passes students who score well on the first segment of the test thus eliminating additional student-standardized patient encounters. Subjects were six classes of Southern Illinois University students (n=404). Results strongly…

Among various possible pedagogical approaches which favor the integration of an environmental dimension into educational processes, gaming and simulation seem particularly suitable to environmental education. Environmental games and simulations reproduce in a simplified and didactical manner the complex nature of concrete environmental problems.…

Describes the emphasis of decision support systems as being on the decision making process itself, rather than the flow of information; reviews the uses of microcomputers in libraries in recent years; and compares five decision modeling software packages. An appendix lists the name, manufacturer's address, price, and hardware requirements of each…

The expert system computer simulation detailed in this report is designed to investigate patterns of valuing in decision-making about dossiers of performance data used in teacher promotion evaluations. The knowledge base for the simulation consists of 111 questions organized into 117 rules. The questions and linked advice were derived from…

Describes computer software for use with various age groups. Topics include activities involving temperature, simulations, earth science, the circulatory system, human body, reading in science, and ecology. Provides information on equipment needed, availability, package contents, and price. Comments of reviews are presented by classroom teachers.…

Describes a variety of computer software programs and student activities utilizing the computer to help teach secondary social studies. Suggests using word processors, painting programs, and computer simulations for history and government courses. Concludes that successful use of computers in social studies instruction depends on the design of…

Although simulation is among the least common of the many methods consultants employ to stimulate team development, realistic simulation can help in the diagnosis of management teams. Simulations fill a gap in the repertoire of data collection methods for organizational diagnosis and development by affording an opportunity for direct observation…

Demonstrates how "School Planner," a menu-driven educational facility cost simulation program, is used for showing the changes in space and cost requirements, given varying assumptions about such factors as number of pupils, class size, number of classes per week, and proportion of space used for instruction. (MLF)