A model based on statistical analysis of alternative choices, practical considerations, and ideal considerations can help students develop decision making skills. Students assign numerical ratings to considerations, chart them, and then construct a scattergram to show correlations between real and ideal considerations, for example. Examples of…

The Introductory Sociology Survey (ISS) is designed to teach introductory students basic skills in developing causal arguments and in using a computerized statistical package to analyze survey data. Students are given codebooks for survey data and asked to write a brief paper predicting the relationship between at least two variables. (Author)

In this project, students in marriage and family courses analyze their families sociologically. Using a list of areas to be considered, students conduct an analysis which teaches them sociological terminology and theory in an enjoyable manner. (Author)

Proposes an alternative strategy for teaching basic statistics to prospective and practicing school principals. A basic statistics course should emphasize exploratory data analysis, graphics, and report writing; illustrate statistical concepts using real-world data; stress descriptive statistical methods; and require students to learn all three…

Investigated the relationship between the use of specific instructional activities and classroom experiences and student motivation for learning science based on 13-year-old students in Ireland from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Highlights include correlation between computer use and student enjoyment; and gender…

Audio-cueing (prompting) is an effective intervention strategy to improve selected teaching behaviors (positive behavior feedback; positive specific skill feedback). The subject of the study was an experienced male elementary (K-8) physical education specialist. Post-checks revealed positive skill feedback improvement was sustained after 6 months,…

Measured whether beginning foreign language classes are more communicative now than they were 17 years ago. Two sets of classroom observations looked at the types and amounts of speaking activities in which beginning foreign language students engage in order to determine how and to what extent students practice the language artificially and as a…

Reviews traditional approaches to learning and education, and examines the use of cognitive apprenticeship as an improved approach. Explores and evaluates the application of cognitive apprenticeship to the teaching of the programming language Smalltalk in a multimedia-based interactive learning environment. Sample computer screens depicting…

Introduces a proposal for an environmental education curriculum revision and the study that this revision is based on. Includes a second study of the educational value of the revised curriculum. Describes the contents, instructional and evaluation process. (21 references) (MCO)

Pretests measuring problem-solving ability were administered to 71 students in a high school mathematics class. One group was given computer-augmented instruction; the other group was given instruction augmented by mathematics laboratory activities. Posttest results for problem-solving ability were mixed, but the group receiving computer-augmented…

Describes an instructional strategy to help students understand behavior variations and the factors related to that variation. Maintains that the technique helps students understand the difference between a statement of association and a hypothesis. Includes a recommended diagram to help implement the strategy. (CFR)

An analysis of Open University (UK) students' expectations about various aspects of their tutoring focused on their attitudes toward teaching methods and their perceptions of a good lecturer. Seven tables present results. This research supports the view that tutoring can be improved through tutors' reflections on content and delivery style based…

Updates a 1987 survey of business-school deans, business faculty, and training-and-development managers in industry that examined the extent to which simulation games were used in academia and business training programs. Findings show that simulation-game usage has grown over the past ten years with expectations for further growth. Contains 29…

Presents one educator's opinions on the use of computers in foreign-language instruction, as well as in other areas of life in general. He suggests that computers, and particularly CD-ROMs, can be very useful in helping to instruct students, but they are no substitute for one-on-one interactions between students and teachers and should be kept in…

This article explores the mathematics involved in the NCAA basketball tournament including data analysis, basic probability, expected value, and the multiplication principle. A fun activity is presented that applies these concepts and involves students shooting Ping-Pong balls to discover a best strategy. (Contains 3 tables and 3 figures.)