Forensic program alumni returning for reunions or speech tournaments sometimes find difficulty in keeping pace with changing forensics practices and procedures. Elements influencing the evolutionary process in forensics include: a growing number of debate philosophy formats, bringing diversity in competitive options; expansion of standard…

This digest reviews the literature on ways that institutions of higher education can enhance student learning outside the classroom. It considers research on the contributions of out-of-class experiences to valued outcomes of postsecondary education and identifies nine institutional conditions which appear to foster student learning outside the…

Suggesting that critical thinking activities are the crux of many of the goals and objectives of communication education, this paper summarizes a sample of the literature on critical thinking. Based on the review, the paper notes that: (1) a consensus exists regarding what critical thinking is and what specific skills are acquired through varied…

Designed to develop K-3 children's thinking skills before the children have mastered reading, this book presents 32 activities in which children learn to complete analogies--presented with an "attribute block" with 3 attributes, children choose a fourth attribute block to complete the analogy. The attribute blocks in the book are of 4 types--shape…

As digital audio evolves, it is only natural that college radio stations reflect the same industry standards. Managers of college radio stations are facing the dilemma of making the decision of which digital audio system to acquire. A specific characteristic for those in the academic world is that whatever piece of equipment is chosen will be…

It is a surprising fact that a student of speech can compete in prose, poetry, drama, and program oral interpretation without ever needing to develop two characters, without ever needing to establish two separate focal points in the same piece, and without ever learning to adapt to a new style of writing. This can be done if the student simply…

This article provides a discussion of the importance and use of a method of systematic critical analysis, metatheorizing, as a tool for understanding the current research and debate in deafness and literacy. After reviewing background information on the notion of metatheorizing, the article presents some general remarks relative to the debate on…

In addition to personal and social consequences, school failure among Member States of the European Community is a major economic liability. Member States have used a variety of measures to counter school failure. It is generally agreed that socioeconomic, cultural, and personal factors all contribute to school failure. Indicators of school…

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 is the primary law authorizing most federal aid to elementary and secondary schools and is up for reauthorization during the 103rd Congress. Major ESEA programs provide assistance in four areas: to help meet the special educational needs of disadvantaged or limited English proficient…

The Dutch Educational Opportunity Program was begun in 1988 to improve educational achievement of Dutch low socioeconomic status (SES) children and children from ethnic minorities. A longitudinal study was done of children in grades 4, 6, and 8 at 700 primary schools. Every 2 years the children were tested for intelligence, arithmetic, and Dutch…

Guidance and counseling in the Des Moines public schools serves two major functions: (1) to address the social, emotional, personal, and developmental needs of students so they are better prepared to take advantage of academic programs; and (2) to facilitate the transition of students into the worlds of work, family, community, and citizenship.…

A path from adolescence into adulthood is mapped from the accounts of college students. The evolution in students' interpretation of their lives is seen and understood through changes in the "forms" in which they conceptualize the issues they face. These forms characterize the underlying structures that students explicitly or implicitly impute to…

Peer helpers can act as liaisons to high school guidance departments by identifying problems, making appropriate referrals, and encouraging others to obtain professional help if necessary. An active program can help ensure that in the future students are better prepared to handle conflicts that arise within marriage, career, and family. This study…

Higher education institutions in the United Kingdom (UK) use a variety of ways to collect views from students about the quality of their educational experiences and suggestions for improvements. A small-scale study, funded by Higher Education Quality Council (QAA), explored how this feedback contributes to enhancing subsequent performance. Drawing…

The traditional Chinese language held no term corresponding to the western idea of democracy. In the Confucian tradition the emphasis was entirely on people's obligations to society and the country, not on rights. The idea of democracy was brought to China early in the 20th century. Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of Chinese "bourgeois…