For the past decade, MDRC has evaluated a number of interventions designed to improve the outcomes of community college students, including enhanced counseling, learning communities, and financial incentives. Encouragingly, many of these strategies have produced positive effects, affirming that changes in institutional practices and policies can…

For the past decade, MDRC has evaluated a number of interventions designed to improve the outcomes of community college students, including enhanced counseling, learning communities, and financial incentives. Encouragingly, many of these strategies have produced positive effects, affirming that changes in institutional practices and policies can…

This paper reviews science curriculum issues surrounding the education of students with disabilities. The background of science education for these students is explored, and three curricula designed especially for them are examined, including a curriculum from the Biological Science Curriculum Study, the "Full Option Science System," and…

Compares treatment of global education in three curriculum guidelines: California's History-Social Science Framework (1987); the New York Social Studies Program; and the National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools' report, "Charting a Course." Finds the New York program more broadly conceptualized emphasizing all the social…

Twenty-nine high-school students were taught ratio and proportion word problems using either an interactive videodisc program incorporating empirically validated curriculum design principles or a teacher-taught program with basals. Both groups, composed of remedial and learning-disabled students, made substantial performance gains, with the…

A study investigated whether Biglan clusters of academic disciplines (hard/soft, pure/applied, life/nonlife) could be used to explain disciplinary differences in college student ratings of instruction. It was found that Biglan clusters do not explain the differences, many disciplines still emphasize knowledge acquisition over higher-order skills,…

State constitutional law is an emerging area for legal education, partly because of state supreme court decisions relying on state rather than federal constitutional law. Studying state constitutional law highlights similarities and diversity of legal and governmental systems. Interest in establishment of curricula and materials in state law is…

A study investigated reasoning processes of medical students in schools with different curricular formats, a conventional curriculum with basic science taught before clinical training and a problem-based curriculum with basic science taught in the context of clinical problems. Strengths and weaknesses of each curriculum type emerged. (Author/MSE)

Great Britain's Nuffield report and the United States' Millis report suggesting strategies for reform in pharmaceutical education and pharmacy practice are compared. (MSE)

Looks at the higher education options available in the United Kingdom for teachers of English as Second Language, focusing on the development and design of master's degree programs in a number of British universities. Attention is given to traditionally taught courses, areas of specialization, and distance learning. (MSE)

A study of the role of subject matter in shaping high school teachers' beliefs, curricular concerns, and instructional practices complements studies of the disciplines in higher education. Factors discussed include the "hard/soft" distinction between disciplines, curriculum sequencing, range of classroom techniques, breadth of course content, and…

Proof of the value of bilingual education programs is usually based on evaluations which measure success solely on the basis of student test scores. An alternative method of evaluating such programs as it is implemented in three bilingual education programs in Connecticut elementary schools is reported in this paper. Eleven first- and second-grade…

A number of issues in classroom second language instruction, particularly as they relate to grammar instruction, are considered in the context of recent research and theory. Discussion begins with a review of the nature and role of second language grammar instruction. Following this, these issues are explored: whether the native or target language…

Defines and clarifies the whole-language approach to second-language instruction, discussing the process of shifting to the whole-language approach, use of the approach in secondary schools, and using student interests to shape the curriculum. A chart contrasts elements of the transmission philosophy of the traditional classroom and the…

Results of a survey of 1,416 elementary schools and 1,349 secondary schools concerning foreign language instruction are reported. The survey sought to provide a national picture of foreign language education in public and private schools by investigating demographics, the amount of instruction provided, enrollment, specific offerings, program…