This guide on technology gives parents and community members an understanding of how information technology is an essential part of children's education in Vermont's schools. The first section provides an overview of technology, including: using technology to collect, share, and analyze information in ways that were impossible ten years ago:…

This study compared the outcomes and experiences of 275 older and 442 younger liberal arts students who had transferred from California community colleges to a research I California university in fall 1994 and spring 1995. The study's conceptual perspective was that of "quality of effort," which considers both what the institution offers…

As part of Johnson County Community College's (JCCC) enrollment management efforts, a questionnaire was designed to gather information about why applicants do not enroll at the college. Survey instruments were mailed to 1,129 potential students in December 1996, resulting in 218 completed surveys. Results are presented for the following areas: (1)…

A study investigated software choices of graduate-level clinicians in a university reading clinic to determine computer use and effectiveness in literacy instruction. The clinic involved students of varying ability, ages 7-12, using 24 Power Macintosh computers equipped with "ClarisWorks,""Kid Pix,""Student Writing…

This action research project implemented and evaluated a program to motivate students to learn through multiple intelligences, cooperative learning, and positive discipline. The targeted population consisted of students in kindergarten, fourth grade, and sixth grade at two grade school and one middle school sites. Evidence of lack of motivation…

A total of 199 students from a school in Hong Kong responded to 25 items in a survey. Principal components analysis found four school motivation factors consistent with the Task, Effort, Competition and Praise scales of the McInerney, et al. (1997) Inventory of School Motivation, one education aspiration factor and one career aspiration factor.…

Problem-based learning (PBL) has great potential for inspiring K-12 learning. KaAMS (Kids as Airborne Mission Scientists), an example of PBL, was designed to help teachers inspire middle school students to learning science, math, technology, and geography. The children participate as scientists investigating environmental problems using NASA…

This paper discusses two programs implemented at elementary schools where volunteer adults became involved in the lives of at-risk students. In the Lunch Buddy program, adults had lunch with their child once a week and talked with them. Within the Caring Adult program the children met weekly with an adult, but the adults rotated. The Lunch Buddies…

This book provides teachers with resources necessary for providing caring and competent instruction and guidance to students of all ages, exploring human resources that teachers need to flourish in the classroom. Chapter 1, "On Being a Teacher," describes the essence of what makes teachers truly great. Chapter 2, "On Being a…

Four teachers at a Singapore Catholic elementary school implemented cooperative learning over a period of a year. The teachers received inservice training on cooperative learning and worked closely with a university research team as they implemented cooperative learning for social studies and other subjects. The teachers were subsequently…

Two papers by the same author describe efforts to predict school dropouts by collecting information from students and teachers during grade seven. In the first paper, "Trying To Predict School Dropouts at Grade Seven," researchers developed an instrument, "Is This True for Me?" based on the Junior Index of Motivation (JIM)…

Why is it so important to keep the arts strong in schools? How does study of the arts contribute to student achievement and success? This paper is designed to answer these and other questions. It describes in nontechnical terms what the research says about how study of the arts contributes to academic achievement and student success. It offers…

Each person who is deaf-blind--whatever her sensory, mental, and physical abilities--deserves the opportunity to become literate in all the ways of which she is capable. Reading and writing are especially crucial for one whose world is narrowed because of vision and hearing losses. Literacy can enable such a person to exchange information and…

The promotion of pupils' self-discipline has been clearly highlighted as one of the National Priorities for Scottish education. This reflects the key role that establishing positive working relationships between pupils and staff is known to play in ensuring effective learning. Equally, this relationship also works in reverse. The quality of…

This chapter presents a basic overview about psychological theories that are foundational to cooperative learning: social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, humanistic psychology, and motivational theories. In so doing, our purpose is to acquaint readers with aspects of theory and research that may be helpful to teachers…