A survey of 103 undergraduate and graduate students found both traditional and nontraditional students rated prescriptive advising as more important and more satisfactory than developmental advising, but both groups also found the advising they received (of either kind) less satisfactory than desired. The questionnaire used is appended. (MSE)

Describes portfolio assessment, recommending it as a means of dynamic and ongoing student evaluation. For students, portfolios stimulate thinking and promote independence. For teachers, they provide a multidimensional view of each child's development. The article explains how to get started, customize portfolio contents, collect notes, and manage…

Presents suggestions on how to incorporate elementary student decision making into classroom routine. The article recommends teachers be models, provide food for thought, focus on student strengths, introduce decision-making processes, and provide practice. Seven steps to making good decisions and activities to develop decision-making skills are…

High attrition rates among African-American students are a significant factor in the decline in graduation rates from nursing programs. Nursing education needs a program to address problems of anger, frustration, and loneliness and to develop the African-American student as a whole person. (Author)

Recommends treating basic skills students as if they have innate knowledge, not an intellectual disease. Underscores inference as a key activity in critical thinking. Suggests strategies for improving students' inferential powers. Argues that the strategies can help students recognize their inferential ability and learn to use it in writing. (SG)

A course taught at Pacific Lutheran University (Washington) encourages students to transform inner creative energy into an expression of their changing, developing identities. Students make shrines to their childhoods, create models, or costume themselves to express their inner lives. (MSE)

This article, on issues that can inhibit the academic achievement of gifted learners, discusses needs of gifted students in general, gifted black students, and gifted college students and offers recommendations for university counselors and other helping professionals in working with gifted college students. (JDD)

Describes investigation examining perceptions and enrollment-related factors among Asian-American and African American college students. Considers issues of perception of value of education, external influences, higher education goals, and significant factors influencing decision to attend college. Suggests both groups are similar regarding…

Suggests that Soviet school administration theory should be studied in combination with social administration. Presents as a goal of the educational system a model secondary school graduate who is disciplined, organized, and capable of both self-restraint and mobilization of will. Notes that such a personality approach requires perfecting existing…

The article discusses whether education should promote metaphysical questioning and speculation, noting the arguments of Robert Hutchins and John Dewey in the 1930s. It suggests that metaphysical questioning and meditative responses be part of education. (SM)

Describes Probability of Adoption of Change (PAC) model, theoretical paradigm for explaining likelihood of successful adoption of planned change initiatives in student affairs. Reports on PAC construct reliability from survey of 62 Chief Student Affairs Officers. Discusses two refinements to the model: merger of leadership and top level support…

Investigated expressed educational interests of residents (n=100) over the age of 60 who are living in an institutional setting. Found that 86 percent of subjects did not consider themselves too old to learn. Subjects were interested in topics designed to enhance enjoyment rather than those based on mastery of skills. (LLL)

Described two types of naturalistic research from different theoretical traditions: new paradigm research and ecological psychology. Applications are suggested for research in college student development and for professional practice in college student affairs. Includes examples of naturalistic research and discusses criteria for scientific…

The Multimethods Model organizes the learning activities of preschool classes for gifted children and assures a differentiated curriculum geared to the individual student. Model components include prescriptive instruction, acceleration of content, building self-direction, creative divergent problem solving, affective guidance, cultivation of…

This hypothetical letter to a junior high school student with visual impairments stresses the child's abilities and possibilities rather than limitations as well as the importance of the child's individual development and assumption of personal responsibility. The letter is primarily intended to help teachers think about how to best help such…