Describes the faculty development efforts at eight medical schools participating in a large-scale medical curriculum development project, exploring faculty-development topics and the methods and ways the institutions motivated faculty to participate. Outcome measures used to gauge program effectiveness are also discussed. Concludes that approaches…

Widespread dissatisfaction caused a Nevada district to reexamine and revamp its teacher-evaluation process. The new system, which assumes teacher participation in goal setting helps teachers become self-reflective practitioners capable of adjusting their practices, has four domains: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and…

Describes a study conducted at the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom) that measured the learning behavior and performance of 65 postgraduate students using a hypermedia-based tutorial. Considers cognitive style, levels of prior experience, motivation, age, gender, and navigation patterns. (Author/LRW)

A total of 318 grade-5 pupils in Swedish schools were questioned in regard to why English is a compulsory subject. Two hundred and one pupils thought that English is compulsory because it is a world language, 94 thought so because it is useful, and 23 thought so because some authority decided so. Contains 22 references. (MDM)

Presents perspectives resulting from the inquiry of the American Graduate School of International Management (AZ) 1994 Winterim students who traveled and studied in Cuba. The article maintains that the selective withdrawal of state power from economic activity and the gradual renewal of private competition promotes controversy. (48 references)…

Asserts that literature-based social studies allow students to acquire a deeper grasp of the meaning and impact of social issues and historical events. Notes, however, that rhetoric about these positive effects is more prevalent than research. Recommends studying this kind of teaching in more detail. (MJP)

Utilizes the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to delineate four basic personality types and their corresponding learning styles. Compares student's learning style with professor's teaching style. Suggests options for improving instruction by offering teaching and grading strategies that better accommodate student personality types and learning…

Presents the results of a study where students rated audiotape excerpts of vocal instruction that featured teacher approval or disapproval behavior. Correlated this information with the students' grade level, gender, and responses to questions concerning attributes for success. Most students attributed success to internal rather than external…

Maintains that the collegiate chapters of the Music Educators National Conference act as an excellent training ground for student leaders. Recommends continuing the support and guidance for these students to emerge as leading teachers. Provides specific advice for MENC chapter advisors on fostering support and independence. (MJP)

This teacher examined the effect of allowing her first graders to choose their own topics for writing. She gathered and analyzed evidence from observations, discussions, surveys, and Likert-like scales, then changed the way she facilitated and taught writing. Students wrote from their imaginations and experiences and became more original, genuine,…

Argues that one of the richest vehicles for enhancing students' classroom learning is the diversity of the student body itself. Integrating diversity into the classroom process also increases motivation and facilitates development of social, cognitive, and communication skills necessary for today's multicultural workforce. Classroom experiences,…

Describes a pilot program at the Highland Primary School Library (Illinois) to maintain or increase reading motivation and skills for kindergarten through third grade students over the 1999 summer vacation. Discusses grant funds; pretest posttest procedures; parental involvement; technology use; and students without access to the public library.…

Use of the student portfolio as an assessment instrument in an interdisciplinary multimedia-development course is described. Guided by the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), the portfolio is used both for continuous course improvement and for student self-assessment. The assessment portfolio is built on the Bloom taxonomy. A…

In the second phase of a longitudinal study of Internet use in Alberta schools, teachers who were experienced Internet users were partnered with graduate research assistants trained in the use of search engines and search strategies. The partnerships designed a variety of Internet-based school activities. Teachers reported on factors that assisted…

Discusses changes in classroom dynamics when computer technology is incorporated into the curriculum, based on experiences in elementary and secondary school science and math classes. Topics include student motivation; cooperation and collaboration; increased persistence in problem solving; different methods of assessment; increased and improved…