After months of waiting, the grant reviews came back: "excellent," "excellent," and "fair." What?! How can this be? Why is the third review so out of line with the first two? On more than one occasion a principal investigator (PI) has been frustrated not only by a negative funding decision but more so by the accompanying reviewer evaluation forms…

We investigated children and families who were participating in a mentoring program targeting children with incarcerated parents. Using multiple methods and informants, we explored the development of the mentoring relationship, challenges and benefits of mentoring children with incarcerated parents, and match termination in 57 mentor-child dyads.…

The 12 states comprising the North Central Region have been affected in similar ways by the farm crisis of the 1980s. Statewide surveys show sizeable proportions of farm operations that are experiencing moderately high levels of financial stress. The problems caused by chronic stress on family structure and functioning, the loss of mainstreet…

Describes design of three linked databases on gardening which are intended for use by home computer owners. Principles of development of these programs--which are neither expert systems nor databases in the usual sense--are outlined, and the self-education process in which the developers found themselves engaged is discussed. (MBR)

Discusses anchored instruction, a teaching technique using videodisc-based problem-solving environments, and describes two research projects involving anchored instruction. Argues that anchored instruction provides a way to recreate and improve upon some of the advantages of situated cognition. (FMW)

Describes a project at Chorleywood College (England) which examined the possibility of automating the transcription of braille examination responses for marking by examination boards. Discussion covers the braille code, requirements of the transcription system, an analysis of mock examination papers which led to system modification, and the final…

In 1986, it was reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that nearly one-third of U.S. commercial farmers were economically threatened. This monograph presents effective adult education programs developed in eight Midwestern states (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota) in response to the farm…

In April 1989, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics issued a major report which presented 13 standards for elementary school mathematics. Among the most important and wide reaching of the Standards are those stating that the study of mathematics should emphasize problem solving, mathematical reasoning, and number sense. The project…

Described is a study of second grade classes that participated in a year-long project in which instruction was generally compatible with a socioconstructivist theory of knowledge and recent recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Methods, results, and implications for mathematics instruction are discussed. (CW)

A discussion of program review at the multicampus University of Maryland focuses on the role of the central system administration in providing a framework that encourages integration of program review into institutional planning and budgeting activities. Systemwide program review procedures are outlined, and the complicating factor of…

This paper describes GUIDON-WATCH, a graphic interface that uses multiple windows and a mouse to allow a student to browse a knowledge base and view reasoning processes during diagnostic problem solving. The GUIDON project at Stanford University is investigating how knowledge-based systems can provide the basis for teaching programs, and this…

This document provides an evaluation of the Comprehensive School Mathematics Program (CSMP) for kindergarten through grade 6. Following an introductory chapter is a chapter on the development and nature of CSMP. Chapter 3 discusses CSMP implementation. Total student achievement scores on the Mathematics Applied to Novel Situations (MANS) tests are…

Included in this section are articles on the following topics: science education for pupils with learning difficulties, the Engineering Council, differential achievement in early childhood according to sex, a peer tutoring program, and suggestions for involving students in recording their own achievement. (CW)

This monograph discusses the current practices associated with the conduct of a research and experimentation program in technology education. It describes the background and bases of the program, the role of the teacher of research and experimentation, and advantages of the program. Next, the environment of the program is addressed, including the…

Describes a study which examined relationships between academic persistence and turn-around time, feedback interval, and contacts between student and institution beyond assignment submissions at Allama Iqbal Open University, Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, Open Learning Institute of British Columbia, Tasmanian State Institute of…