Motivational aspects of seventh graders' and ninth graders' decisions to adopt or reject educational goals advocated by parents are studied using 988 adolescents, both black and white, for whom questionnaire and achievement test data are available. Both social structure and the interpersonal environment appear to influence adolescent inclinations…

Describes a study of undergraduate students that investigated the effects of two types of learner control and two types of incentives--task-contingent and performance-contingent--on learners' achievement, attitudes, use of options, and time on program using computer-delivered instruction. Implications for instructional design and research are…

Interviews with four African-American recent high school students in a predominantly black rural North Carolina town focus on the individual's perceptions of society with regard to definitions and decisions about education. It is evident that school is regarded differently by those who graduate and those who drop out. (SLD)

Presents a collection of computer programs for teaching elementary and middle school mathematics. At the primary level, programs teach students skip counting, measurement, graphs, number patterns, place value, addition, and subtraction. An action game for the upper elementary level teaches mental math, geometry, statistics, addition,…

Online education may help address the challenges of growing student enrollment, overcrowded schools, outdated buildings, teacher shortages, scheduling conflicts, limited educational opportunities (especially advanced-placement classes), and other equity concerns. Snapshots of virtual high schools in Florida, Kentucky, and West Virginia are…

Reviews Maslow's hierarchy of needs and characterization of the self-actualizing personality, suggesting that since few people meet his self-actualization criteria, an educational system designed to produce such personalities may fail, with teachers attending only to the hierarchy's lower stages (self-esteem and self-actualization) which dilutes…

Describes the achievement and attitudes of eight academically and socially successful middle school and high school students. Notes factors in addition to family support that contribute to success such as hard work, curiosity, and an internal goal of doing one's best. Includes suggestions for parents such as being a role model, applauding effort,…

Educators and researchers interested in responding to the demands of politicians and citizens to improve the American educational system have responded with the creation of national and, often, state standards across subject areas. Physical education teachers and researchers who recognize the importance of physical education, and as part of an…

This paper describes an experimental study aimed at investigating the learning effectiveness of a Web-based course called "Academic English" (EAP) for Japanese learners of English. The main focus of the study was to examine the form, function, and impact of interaction in the course. Twenty university-level EFL students participated in…

Increasingly, less educated Americans are struggling with self-sufficiency. Low-end jobs are diminishing, and adults who left high school with education adequate to support themselves now find their marketable skills limited. Recent welfare reforms restrict assistance, leaving struggling workers with dwindling aid. Changing family structures…

Research suggests positive interaction between students and teachers is a hallmark of a safe and effective school. Yet to date there is no literature presenting findings or case examples of what constitutes positive engagement or how to measure its frequency. This paper shares observations of a "model" rural middle school in an attempt…

The current work is the first article in a two-paper series exploring the role of explicit learning objectives in undergraduate mathematics instruction. A definition of student-learning objective (SLO) is introduced. We give examples of SLOs for topics from introductory college and university mathematics courses. We list potential advantages of a…

In this article, the author critiques six articles. Five of the six articles are about motivation in language learning, an area which has seen considerable theoretical and empirical development over the last decade. The articles she reviews include: (1) Udo Jung's report on the top twelve "most prestigious FLT (foreign language teaching) journals"…

The recent high profile of the underachievement debate in the media, through research initiatives, and in resulting remediation programmes within the classroom, has focused almost exclusively upon boys, such that the identity and needs of the underachieving girl have been rendered invisible. Underachievement has become so closely associated with…

Research was undertaken to assess the role of primary school teachers with regard to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires were responded to by 210 teachers drawn from primary schools in Eastern Nigeria (with pupils aged 6-15 years). These were supplemented by focus group discussions and…