Discusses issues related to the portability, or transferability, of educational software. Topics include motivations for portability, including economic and social; technology transfer experiences; technical, educational, social/cultural, and organizational factors; examples, including international projects; handling multiple languages; graphical…

Describes using a "dialogue of disciplines", a teaching method which traces a particular theme across artistic disciplines, to present Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" in a comprehensive way. Suggests that exposing students to paintings, films, stage performances, and operas creates a multidimensional experience and…

Suggests ways to use ClarisWorks to motivate students when only one computer is accessible: (1) class database; (2) grade book; (3) classroom journal; (4) ongoing story center; (5) skill-and-draw review station; (6) monthly class magazine/newspaper; (7) research base/project planner; (8) lecture and presentation enhancement; (9) database of ideas…

Observes that students participate in a band program for a variety of reasons. Some students love music, some are involved in many different activities, others enjoy the performance aspect, and some simply want to socialize. Maintains that a successful band program needs to accommodate these various agendas. (MJP)

A teacher at a northern Ontario adult Native literacy program describes how she cultivates student motivation. The teacher-student relationship is the most influential factor for motivating students. By focusing on cultural awareness, cultural teaching practices, and a sense of community, teachers can help students be successful. Program…

Reports the design and evaluation of a prototype for learning modules compliant to the SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) standard for use with hypermedia systems in Web-based instruction. Discusses a study of undergraduates that considered relations between individual differences in learner characteristics, including intrinsic…

Describes two parallel pieces of research in Malaysia to investigate the claim that a conflict may exist between the implicit values underlying English language teaching and the values of Islam. Findings indicate that the majority of students studying English recognized the dangers of absorbing alien values and felt able to deploy English as a…

Effects of project-based instruction were assessed in a study of 21 students (mean age 12) with learning disabilities who developed social studies projects from source materials using word processing tools alone or using multimedia presentation tools. Students in both groups acquired substantial content knowledge, but neither group differed in…

Observed English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writing classes in Canada in order to document what the ESL instructors do when they teach. Findings reveal that the instructors gave more attention to collectively constructing language paradigms and to guiding individual development than other routines, and attracted student's attention in one way or…

Focuses on the problems accompanying the transition of students between secondary and postsecondary levels of foreign language study. Points out that the inconsistencies found in placement procedures among Florida's universities and community colleges suggest a need for discussion and collaboration. (23 references) (Author/CK)

In semi-structured interviews, 11 British university lecturers were prompted to discuss their motivations for starting, continuing, and achieving closure in collaborative staff development. Motivations included learning how to teach and involve students in learning, and drawing support from faculty development experts. Findings suggest that…

Examined cognitive competencies and motivation in economically advantaged and disadvantaged preschoolers and kindergartners over a two-year period. Found that disadvantaged children had poorer cognitive scores than advantaged children. Cognitive gains were equal after one or two years in school, with socioeconomic status (SES) differences…

Whether goals held by students from diverse cultural backgrounds differ and the relationship of these goals to school motivation and achievement were studied with 2,156 Australian (Anglo, immigrant, and Aboriginal), 529 Navajo, and 198 Canadian Montagnais Betsiamite Indian secondary school students. Cross cultural and educational implications are…

Used social-cognitive framework to identify teacher and program characteristics supporting student-perceived competence and intrinsic motivation in two junior high classes. Found that student beliefs were related to choices provided in academic activities, the type of behavior management techniques used, teachers' beliefs regarding reasons for low…

This study drew on survey data from 121 urban middle school students to define features of homework management. Findings indicated that arranging the environment and controlling emotions related systematically to family help with homework. Homework management indices were unrelated to standardized achievement test scores. Findings generated…