Two former staff members reflect on their feelings about the August 1995 closing of Bark Lake Leadership Centre (Ontario, Canada), which for 49 years had offered outdoor adventure and environmental education courses to youth and adults. They discuss their experiences as both students and teachers at the center, which helped shape their careers in…

Developmental differences in the acquisition of information about strategy efficiency gleaned from observation of a peer model were assessed among 60 second and 60 seventh graders and 60 undergraduate students. At each age level, 20 subjects were randomly assigned to each of 3 experimental conditions. Developmental differences were considerable.…

Cross-sectional and longitudinal study of one- to six-year-olds in full-time child care assessed sequences and individual differences in development of social competence with peers. Study collects most extensive and varied data to date. Findings concern stability of individual differences, social classifications, influences of variations in…

Urges that the changes in the ethnic, religious, and cultural pluralism in the United States, as well as those in politics of the educational system, be taken into account when designing history curricula. Argues that world history should replace the western civilization course. (KO)

These 4 case studies examine the last years of high school and postschool experiences of 4 21-year-olds labeled mentally retarded. Issues discussed include school compliance with legislation concerning Individualized Education Programs, influence of parental involvement, adult services, and necessary employment supports. (JDD)

The Steps to Self-Determination curriculum model focuses on knowing oneself, valuing oneself, planning, acting, experiencing outcomes, and learning. It has been tested with 77 high school students having a variety of disabilities. Two related scales have also been developed: the Self-Determination Observation Checklist and the Self-Determination…

Tested the effectiveness of a framework that linked developmental and multicultural counseling theories for use among elementary-school-age students (n=117). Designed to help students develop a variety of social and interpersonal skills that would increase their ability to resolve conflicts resulting from negative prejudices, the intervention was…

Suggests the lack of research concerning contexts of human development has caused environmental influences to be not well known or studied. Discusses primary and secondary developmental contexts. Proposes four properties of the ecological environment that foster human development. Details impact of third parties on a setting, interconnections…

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews with parents of 15 students with cognitive disabilities regarding their transition from school to adult life. Results indicate that parents have a vision for their child's future and measure the quality of school services and transitional services by how their child is succeeding in realizing that…

Discusses how teachers can guide young children to become aware of residential buildings in their hometowns in order to help understand cultural diversity in the global community. Maintains that, as children explore diverse forms of shelter, they begin to recognize cultural similarities. (CFR)

Maintains that a major theme in Lev Vygotsky's later research was concept formation or conceptual development in child development. States that Vygotsky argued that the acquisition of mature academic concepts forms the crowning achievement of adolescence. Argues that the view raises a number of criticisms. (CFR)

Used the rational facet approach to examine the relationship between age and perceptions of subconstructs of prosocial behavior on the part of second, fourth, sixth, and eighth graders and adult teachers. Differentiation of subconstructs of prosocial behavior increased with age. (Author/BB)

Five papers on research related to learning and instruction discuss the following: subjective competence and self-assessment; development of quantitative-relational abilities from childhood to adolescence; detecting functional relations in a computerized learning environment; developmental patterns and individual differences in word-search…

In this ethnographic study, narrative analysis was used to describe how four deaf women make sense of their lives as teachers. The women disclose their beliefs concerning teaching, their deafness, and their connection with the deaf community. The study notes the influence of the institutional cultures of both deaf and hearing communities and of…

Relational approaches to school reform foster the development of caring relationships among children and teachers at school as a means of effecting children's intellectual, social, and emotional growth. Reviews the fundamental nature and mission of relationally oriented schools, presents model programs, and discusses issues and future directions…