Three studies used interspecies adoption stories to examine children's understanding of the role of birth in determining animal properties and species identity. Found that most 4- to 7-year olds could reliably judge that babies would be of the same species as birth parents, but were unable to attribute properties of adoptive parents. (Author/KB)

Twelve open-ended questions, administered to 28 experienced elementary teachers and 26 education majors, examined mathematical content knowledge and related pedagogical knowledge by focusing on instructional decisions made in specific classroom situations involving whole number operations, fractions, and geometry. Results suggest that pedagogical…

Administration of the Test of Understanding in College Economics to 79 British college freshmen before and after a required introductory economics course revealed that students with little prior exposure to economics typically did not achieve the knowledge level of more experienced students by course end. Results were not affected by intelligence,…

Discusses how educating children to use maps for navigation may enhance wayfinding skills as well as general representation and spatial skills. Documents need for innovative educational curricula to meet challenges of teaching map navigation. Describes development and evaluation of "Where Are We?" curriculum to simulate real-world…

Investigates proficiencies when students work on mathematics problems and the extent captured by knowledge categories. Explores competency that goes beyond knowledge to include mathematical 'dispositions' and 'practices' in which students engage. Considers ways in which research knowledge is conceived and developed, reflecting upon the role of…

This study investigated the attitudes of seven Hmong parents of hearing impaired children attending an American public school. Most parents reported limited knowledge of the policies, practices, and organizational structures of special education, and all cited communication barriers as impediments to involvement in their child's education.…

Discusses the roots and wider educational consequences of an alleged technocratic narrowness in teacher thinking and behavior. Concludes that sociopolitical forces external to the school constrict the pedagogical conduct of teachers (e.g., the tendency to treat curriculum knowledge apart from teaching knowledge and the development of reductionist…

Investigated relationship between perceived parental sexual communicator style and adolescent sexual behavior and information accuracy. College students (N=234) provided such information across three time frames (junior high school, high school, college). Found significant relationships between perceived parental sexual communicator styles and…

The accuracy and relations between 38 undergraduates' knowledge of content and origin of course information were examined. Results indicate a relationship between correct answers on a multiple-choice test and knowledge concerning the origin of information pertinent to the answers. Findings are discussed in terms of a reality-monitoring model. (TJH)

Community gatekeepers (N=53) participated in alcohol education workshop to increase identification, intervention, and referral of women with alcohol problems. Participants completed questionnaires before and after workshop and participated in six-month follow-up. Results suggest the higher the educational level and the more salient the topic of…

Parents of 372 visually impaired children in Scotland were surveyed to determine the parents' knowledge of the child's eye condition, educational placement of the child, and registration status as blind or partially sighted. Results indicated that 50 percent of parents were dissatisfied with explanations of their child's visual impairment or…

Examined sexuality and contraceptive knowledge of inner city middle school adolescents (N=116) from minority groups who participated in a free physical examination program. Differences by gender, race, and ethnicity were found. The findings suggest trends and implications for school counselors. (NB)

Discusses ways to define and attain the goal of cultural competence for beginning foreign language teachers. The three components of cultural competence (sociolinguistic ability, procedural and descriptive knowledge, and attitudes), and the strategy for attaining such competence, can be defined through nationwide consensus, development of database…

Presents a small informal survey assessing the awareness of input styles of English-as-a-Foreign-Language teacher trainers. The survey proved to have a beneficial effect on both questioner and questioned, and enhanced trainers' self-awareness and trainer-to-trainer attitude changes. (Author/CB)

A study of 110 first-year University of Virginia medical students taking a required course in medical ethics found that the curriculum had little effect on student attitudes toward certain ethical questions or on their factual knowledge regarding particular ethical and legal issues. (Author/MSE)