Education is an international must, a veritable human right, yet education--especially higher education--in the land of the free is still remarkably elusive. The author has witnessed the many obstacles associated with preparing students for college. Advanced courses are rarely offered in these schools due to a lack of perceived eligible students,…

In general, studies on gender and mathematics show that the advantage held by boys over girls in mathematics achievement has diminished markedly over the last 40 years. Some researchers even argue that gender differences in mathematics achievement are no longer a relevant issue. However, the results of the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study…

This paper reports the development of critical thinking of urban high school students in the Chinese city of Xi'an. It presents the assessment of the students' two components of critical thinking: dispositions towards critical thinking and critical thinking skills, using the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory and the California…

Lessons about elementary particles at the secondary school level can degenerate into listing a zoo of particles and reactions, resulting in disorganized and rather meaningless knowledge. A more powerful way is to focus on conservation laws, symmetries and reaction diagrams. The conservation laws and symmetries provide generalizing power that…

The purpose of this study was to investigate a multi-faceted women's calculus course designed to retain women in advanced mathematics courses. With this research, we wanted to find out, first, in what ways students were influenced by participation in the course and, second, in what ways these influences affected their mathematics learning or…

The four courses described were worked out as an alternative to the regular third and fourth year intermediate high school Spanish classes. The approach that was formulated is an attempt to meet the needs of students who are interested in continuing foreign language study on a more limited scale, with particular emphasis on culture. The courses…

Examination of the different types of courses and course materials can help identify the parameters and configurations of advanced composition. While usually referring to nonfiction writing, courses labeled "advanced composition" range from expository and narrative nonfiction through fiction and poetry. They also include legal and…

Suggests that one method to help advanced language students acquire new vocabulary is to study word formation and derivation. Suggests ways in which this can be done in the teaching of Italian. Discusses the process of derivation from three perspectives: (1) contrastive analysis, (2) lexical fields, and (3) etymology. (SED)

Suggests that the notion of "normal" English as opposed to "literary" English leads to a considerably oversimplified view of how language is used. Suggests that courses be designed to increase the understanding of stylistic variation by advanced students of English so that they can improve their receptive and productive skills. (SED)

Describes the four general categories of advanced technical writing courses: genre courses, general communication courses, rhetorical theory or history courses, and courses that use special pedagogical techniques or focus on a certain aspect of technical communication. Discusses implications for planning advanced courses. (HTH)

Discusses some of the difficulties in vocabulary learning and gives suggestions for building vocabulary in meaningful contexts. (EKN)

Discusses technical writing textbooks and assignments that can be used in advanced courses in technical writing. (RL)

Explains that the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is a rigorous, college-prep program where students select courses from six disciplines revolving around a core course called Theory of Knowledge. Notes that IB exams are knowledge-based tests that evaluate students on what they have actually studied. Contends that the IB program addresses…

Raising attainment has become an over-riding concern for politicians and educational administrators on both sides of the Atlantic. The public perception, often generated by adverse reports in the media, is of declining educational standards. However, it is often difficult to compare standards across time and between countries since assessments do…

This study extends the extant research on first-year programs to include a closer examination of their impact on student learning and democratic outcomes. Based on data collected from three courses--a first-year success course with an explicit focus on diversity, an introductory communication course, and an introductory engineering course--we…