The central concept of this review underscores the fact that the development of a feeling of belonging at school occurs because of different interactions between developing students and the school's ecological environment over time. This review argues that Bronfenbrenner's Bio-ecological Systems Theory can best explain the development of school…

The first section of this paper deals with the contributions of non-academic experiences to education. Two measures, "my overall development as a person" and satisfaction with the non-academic scene, indicated positive correlations both between satisfaction with experiences in the non-academic area and overall growth, and between level of…

Study analyzes longitudinal data on students to identify specific college experiences that influence particular outcomes that are indicative of character. Results suggest that the campus culture of religious institutions provides a setting in which character-enhancing activities are valued, while the culture of academically selective campuses may…

A study investigated whether college environments known to provide unusually rich out-of-class learning opportunities are associated with different patterns of student learning and personal development. Data were gathered during a year-long examination of institutional conditions associated with student involvement in out-of-class learning…

This bulletin is designed to show some of the ways in which successful teachers work with children in order to establish rapport and to guide them into productive and happy living. This bulletin presents in the main a viewpoint based on the belief that if children live in a friendly school environment rich with experiences and materials that…

Examines research that studies the effects of students' out-of-class experiences on academic, intellectual, or cognitive learning outcomes. Identifies the following aspects of student out-of-class experiences which student affairs professionals have control over through policy and program interventions: (1) residence; (2) fraternities and…

This review of the literature considers three issues: how out-of-class experiences of undergraduates contribute to the goals of higher education and valued outcomes; the institutional conditions that encourage students to use out-of-class time in educationally purposeful ways; and the role of all members of the campus community to foster such…

Involvement in various college activities and educational gains of black students (n=1,200) attending a historically white institution were compared. Involvement in academic activities had a greater impact on gains of students at the black institution, and social engagement was more important for black students at the white institution. (Author)

This study examined how three dimensions of college students' experiences affect critical thinking skills: (1) curricular exposure, (2) formal classroom and instructional experiences, and (3) out-of-class experiences. The study used a 1-year, longitudinal, panel study design using data collected as part of a pilot study for a national,…