Aligned with its 1998 standards for first- and second-language learning, Alberta Learning has published lesson plans that aim for a closer relationship between learning and evaluation. Each volume in this series presents a specific task for students that involves planning, carrying out, and evaluating their work. The task for twelfth grade…

Results from Biology Cognitive Preference Inventory taken by grade 12 Jewish (N=406) and Arab (N=297) biology majors revealed similarities between cognitive preferences, achievement, and background variables. Reports that, in spite of substantial cultural and home differences, both groups became oriented toward principles/questioning rather than…

Among 492 rural Ohio high school students surveyed in 1979, 78.3% had used alcohol at least once and 51.3% had used marijuana at least once, contrasting previous research reporting low substance use among rural youth. Socio-demographic and family variables had only limited utility for understanding drug or alcohol abuse. (SB)

This study determined that there is a positive and significant relationship between the quality of supervised occupational experience, as measured by labor income and the scope of the student's program, and the level of achievement in technical knowledge for students in production agriculture. (SK)

So far, results from the massive Third International Mathematics and Science Study indicate that American students have not yet achieved national goal number 5--to be first in the world in math and science achievement by 2000. Although fourth graders' results were surprisingly stronger than eighth graders' scores, American students' overall…

This study of 90 academically gifted 12th graders found positive relationships among actual leadership, past leadership, and leadership skills; between peer and teacher rankings of leadership; and between IQ and leadership skills. Males scored significantly higher than females on past leadership behavior and task orientation leadership style. (CR)

Discusses a project to transform a short story into a play and perform it on stage in order to enhance student understanding of the Japanese cult of obedience and of the political events that led Japan to join the Germans in World War II. The article emphasizes that students become more motivated when they are exposed to subject matter in an…

Examines gender stereotyping, homonegativity, and erroneous beliefs about sexual coercion among adolescents. Responses from 1,045 questionnaires from tenth- and twelfth-grade students show males are more homonegative, gender stereotypic, and supportive of erroneous beliefs about sexual coercion than are female adolescents. Additionally, findings…

Construct validity findings from Campbell-Fiske and LISREL confirmatory factor analyses of a multitrait-multimethod matrix were compared for 252 low-track and 588 high-track eleventh- and twelfth-grade students. The manner in which construct validity varies across groups is also discussed. (SLD)

A study involving 697 male and 765 female ninth and twelfth graders was undertaken to assess learned helplessness in attribution patterns associated with personal failure. Although significant gender differences were identified, little evidence was obtained supporting the learned helplessness model for adolescent female achievement motivation.…

Outlines a procedure used to develop a written diagnostic instrument to identify misconceptions and misunderstandings of the chemistry topic. Reports the characteristic data for the instrument, and student understanding of covalent bonding and structure. (Author/YP)

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to investigate the factorial validity across gender of the Self-Description Questionnaire III (SDQ III) subscales measuring general, school, English, and mathematics self-concepts. When administered to 516 male/475 female 11th/12th graders in Ottawa (Canada), the questionnaire demonstrated…

Asserts that receiving an invitation to participate in the National High School Honors Orchestra (NHSHO) represents the zenith in the growth and maturation of young orchestral musicians. Describes how the NHSHO was initiated so that talented youth could have the opportunity to meet and work with other accomplished musicians. (CFR)

Discusses high school seniors' apathy and unruliness prior to graduation and suggests ways to combat these behaviors. Profiles an independent study program adopted by one school as a remedy and which expanded seniors' perceptions of how they learn while uniting the senior class in the latter months of school. (RJM)

A report on the status of environmental education (EE) in the Australian School Curriculum includes (1) a content analysis for EE in course study guides; (2) a discussion concerning environmental science and postcompulsory curriculum reform; (3) a summary of the study results; and (4) a list of challenges for future EE. (five references) (MCO)