Compared "extended discretion" (ED) learning approach to traditional Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) laboratory investigations. Found that although ED students are more capable of exercising independent judgment for greater lengths of time while BSCS demanded more teacher time, all teachers were still reluctant to accord…

One hundred fifteen teachers (58 percent) at universities, community colleges, and public schools reported their teaching practices and beliefs in teaching adults and preadults. Though they reported differences, observation yielded little evidence of a more student-centered approach with adults. Interaction analysis provided an objective…

The adult and community (ACE) sector and technical and futher education (TAFE) institutes provide programs for young people which re-connect them to education. This report suggests these programs and settings are considered effective pathways for some young people who have left school early. The researchers found students are attracted to the…

This paper presents thoughts resulting from review of proposals by state developmental disabilities authorities, submitted to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, that were designs for change initiatives in self-determination systems. These reflections on the use of service money and the provision of supports to people with developmental…

This document consists of four issues of a newsletter for educators at the elementary level. Each issue features articles on a specific theme along with regular columns. The Fall 1999 issue focuses on the role of autonomy in the elementary classroom using the constructivist approach. A second article presents fire and Halloween safety tips. The…

The text of a November 1995 Slovak Republic law concerning language use in that country is translated and analyzed from the perspective of a recent Linguistic Society of America (LSA) statement on language rights stating that speakers be allowed to express themselves, publicly or privately, in the language of their choice. The law provides that…

This paper discusses the genius of the principle of normalization in the development of better services for socially devalued people. It argues that the definition of normalization sets a direction for learning-through-action which is clear and convincing, as well as indefinite and conditional, and rests on a deep appreciation of the everyday…

More information has led to an ever-increasing sense that things are out of control. A recognition that inability to control is not necessarily a sign of weakness or incompetence could help nourish the emergence of more humane and worthy modes of personal behavior and public regulation. (Author/RM)

Examined concurrent and longitudinal factors associated with geographical distance between parents and their young adult offspring. Adolescents were interviewed and completed questionnaires several times between sixth grade and age 21. Results indicated correlations between healthy parent-child relationships and geographical distance, personal…

Since the 1979 revolution, Iranian women have been expected to fulfill the traditional role of women under Islamic law while contributing to the modern needs of their country. Iranian women have access to a wide range of (gender-segregated) educational opportunities and are drawing on their relatively high levels of educational attainment to…

The relationships between student affective performance and classroom physical environment, social climate, and management style were studied for 21,622 students, mostly sixth graders, in Hong Kong. Perceived quality of physical environment and class master's expert, personal, and coercive power were the strongest predictors of affective…

Seventy-seven adolescents in 2-parent families and their parents were observed in a revealed-differences interaction task when the adolescents were age 14, and the adolescents' ego development and self-esteem were assessed at both age 14 and 16. Adolescents' displays of autonomy and relatedness were strongly related to concurrent measures of ego…

The goal of good education is to have each student decide for himself or herself what will secure or endanger his or her freedom. Ways in which education has socialized people to fit into a racist society are discussed, and suggestions are given for reducing racism in the classroom. (SLD)

Provides data on the construct validity of a newly developed Communalism Scale (CS) by exploring its relationship with indexes of collectivistic and individualistic tendencies. Results from 86 college students show that the CS scores were negatively correlated with individualistic attitudes. Positive relationships were found between communalism…

A simulation study with 96 students at 3 schools of fashion design demonstrated that more creative output was obtained from subjects who had more choice in selecting problems on which to work; took more time to perform the task; had more training; expressed positive feelings about their work; and attended the school with the best reputation. (DB)