Describes a solution to alleviate the low numbers of students graduating from the majority of physics programs throughout the nation. Discusses the outcome of a virtual physics department. (Author/CCM)

Uses documentary analysis and an informal case study to locate antecedents of a shift towards lack of preparedness among college entrants and a general shift towards a more utilitarian higher education. Concludes that changes put in place to make mathematics more widely useful may result in losing the features which make it marketable. (Author/MM)

Reports on a study exploring why students are not studying chemistry. Three groups of graduating high school students and their chemistry teachers stayed at a research institute working on molecular modeling and wrote essays on school chemistry versus chemistry in research. Concludes that school chemistry does not convey today's chemistry in…

Claims that one goal of introductory college science courses should be to provide students with insights into what science is all about, and that this goal is important for science majors and nonmajors and should be able to be done effectively for both populations in one course. (MM)

Investigation of orientation programs and African-American student retention, particularly within the community college sector, has long been neglected. This study specifically investigates the differences between an orientation course and student retention measures, for African-American student retention. Chi-square analysis revealed significant…

This study focuses on the effect of using a computer-based competitive learning system called LearnStar, as supplementary instruction in introductory chemistry courses. The outcomes evaluated were of student performance on classroom exams, the cumulative final, overall course grade, overall DFW rate (the percentage of student receiving a D, F, or…

The purpose of this study was to examine some of the factors that influence and impact business students when they select their major and, more particularly, to examine why students are not majoring in information systems. Students in an entry level business class responded that they were more knowledgeable about careers in management, marketing,…

Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, Comparative and International Education (CIE) has almost disappeared from the curricula of teacher education colleges in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Yet, CIE is experiencing a revival at postgraduate level. This article will explore the reasons for this dichotomy and the decline of CIE…

The benefits of mathematics and science courses in high school were studied using information from the High School and Beyond (HS&B) data set, a study that began with more than 30,000 high school sophomores in 1980. The analysis focuses on approximately 7,000 students who finished their schooling by 1988 and for whom there were valid test…

Argues against the practice of designing a major or concentration in English as a gumbo of courses thrown together to add up to required credit hours. Presents five reasons why the "gumbo" model of picking and choosing courses to suit students' taste is not an effective one for students, or helpful to other constituents to whom educators…

A study to determine if useful information about public health continuing education preferences could be obtained from a standard needs assessment survey instrument indicated a heterogeneous set of preferences. Factor analysis suggested consistent preferences on five factors; nonlinear relationships were found among preferences and size of service…

Touchtone/voice response technology consists of hardware and software that recognizes input from a push-button telephone and generates a "voice" response to the caller. An informal poll of campuses using touchtone/voice response registration systems reveals many advantages, and no major drawbacks, to investing in such a system. (MLW)

The notion that adults freely choose to participate in education is problematic. Some have unconditional choice, but for others attendance may be driven by potential vocational usefulness or be necessary to keep a job or state benefits. "Voluntary" is not, therefore, a defining characteristic of adult education. (SK)

New York 10th graders (n=925) indicated their reasons for enrolling in agricultural education were related to preparation for jobs and higher education, skill development, academic enhancement, response to social pressures, or participation in activity-centered learning. Few gender or ethnic differences appeared, although males responded more to…

Results of the Career Choice in Technical College Inventory completed by 283 students indicated that income in occupation most influenced career choice; interesting courses and previous work experience were also influential; in public and health services, teachers were influential; career guidance personnel were least influential; and no gender…