Describes a study in which preschool children, enrolled in a Head Start Program in Texas, tested computer-assisted instruction facilitating visual discrimination. The study, in which a TRS-80 Model III displayed alphabetical characters, showed that four-year-olds are able to learn simple visual discrimination tasks from a computer. (JJD)

Junior high schools in three states are currently participating in Science Resources for Schools (SRS), a three-year pilot project designed to link schools with the scientific community. Highlights of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)-directed program and program materials are described. Other AAAS educational activities…

Describes an attempt to design a first-year university French course along lines laid down by researchers associated with the Council of Europe and proponents of the communicative approach. Aspects discussed include approach and objectives, public, materials, activities, and evaluation. (Author/AMH)

The Situation, Objective, Solution (SOS) model was used to increase teaching time in elementary science in one school district in Oregon. Results of that effort could be duplicated in many similar school districts across the country. The role of teachers on special assignment in science is highlighted. (MP)

The Colombian version of the test met acceptable requirements of reliability and construct validity for use in cross-cultural research. Use of the back-translation method ensured equivalency of the Colombian and the English versions, and items in the Colombian version carried the same meaning as those in the original English version. (Author/CM)

A pilot program for training cooperating teachers and bettering communication among all participants in the student teaching program is described. (JMF)

New Medicare regulations will soon mandate upgrading of laboratory technicians' knowledge and skills; a Colorado demonstration project responded successfully to the needs of small-town and rural technicians with a creative approach (now being bought and used by others) and circuit-flying instructors. (AJ)

A content analysis of responses to the "Circles" test, designed to elicit information about sex-typing, was developed on a pilot sample of 10- to 11-year-old school children. Argues that sex-typed response styles are modifiable psychological characteristics, and that investigations of individual differences in cognition need to emphasize styles,…

This is a third and final paper on aspects of multiracial education, derived from data collected by the National Foundation for Educational Research in England and Wales for the Department of Education and Science. (Author/RK)

The procedure described consists of eight interacting stages: (1) definition of institutional mission and service area; (2) idea generation; (3) idea screening; (4) concept development; (5) concept testing; (6) costing; (7) estimation of program demand; and (8) program evaluation. A pilot test of the procedure is reviewed. (Author/LBH)

Data from primary care physicians attending a workshop on Alzheimer's disease included 21 pretests, 14 posttests, and 17 interviews. Results showed that 41% had used workshop materials to train other health care providers; all felt better able to conduct patient education. (SK)

Examines the writing and translation processes of second-language learners both in their native and second languages. Results indicate that most students used a "what-next" approach in their writing tasks in both languages and a "sentence-by-sentence" approach in the translation task. Attention patterns in both writing tasks…

Describes a joint project in which California State University, Los Angeles delivered an advanced course to students at Tomsk Polytechnic University in Tomsk, Russia using Telnet communications. Discusses the technology, course alterations, the role of local coordinators, delivery, and future opportunities. (AEF)

Discusses digital instructional management systems (DIMSs) and describes a pilot study conducted in two Dutch kindergartens with a prototype DIMS that included individualization and optimization, that is matching curriculum with learner characteristics. Topics include learning processes for children at risk; and future plans. (LRW)

Outlines the findings of a qualitative and primarily formative evaluation of Louisiana's Networking Infrastructures for Education pilot program to help develop a statewide educational technology network. This evaluation primarily focused on efforts to incorporate Internet applications for math and science curriculum in elementary and secondary…