Summarizes a survey of developments during 1993 through 94 in public and private school library media programs in the United States. Highlights include: expenditures for all types of nonbook resources compared to books, reading motivation programs, staff development programs, and the use of Internet and e-mail. Seventeen tables display survey…

A survey of 1,234 McGill University (Canada) students (entrants, graduates, alumni, and voluntary withdrawals) in a management continuing education program investigated the anticipated benefits in career development, fulfillment of imposed requirements, personal development, networking, attainment of knowledge, and personal fulfillment.…

Describes the "number 2 arithmetic challenge," an activity in which students score points by creating examples using the number 2 that satisfy an unknown rule. Computers are utilized to verify and record examples. Conflicts with computer responses create situations to explore negative numbers, fractions, mixed numbers, the order of…

Proposes the method of student-generated story problems to supplement textbook problems, generate student interest, and bring real-life situations into the mathematics classroom. Gives steps to initiate the method that incorporates small groups and peer teaching to develop problem-solving and problem-posing abilities. (MDH)

Studies student attitudes and teacher influence on educational outcomes among 137 undergraduates attending the University of California at Los Angeles. The existence of a grade-point-average perspective (emphasis on good grades over critical and analytical learning) is confirmed, and the influence of teachers on this perspective and educational…

A survey of heads of education divisions in 245 colleges and universities in the United States investigated their perceptions of the relationship between various faculty activities (teaching, service, publication) and rewards (tenure, promotion, merit pay, contract renewal) in motivating teachers and in making administrative decisions. (Author/MSE)

This study applied social psychological constructs to examine the linguistic attitudes and motivations of 301 Hungarian high school students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Factor and correlational analyses of the results of a survey questionnaire revealed that xenophilic, sociocultural, instrumental, and media-use reasons were most…

Questions the effectiveness of the career guidance that Soviet secondary students receive. Discusses a survey of 2,605 students that investigated students' life goals assessments of their labor training and work experiences. Argues that Soviet schools need to correlate career guidance more effectively both with development of individual student…

Describes the Hendersonville Accelerated Reading Program (H.A.R.P.), in which students in two schools were motivated to read and write through cooperative development of a database of book reviews and the opportunity to read aloud to elementary school students. Student and teacher reactions and program outcomes are discussed. (NRP)

Traditional assessment, grading, and student-recognition practices are partly responsible for the low levels of student effort pervading American schools. Two improvement-focused systems for student accountability and recognition that have been field tested are presented: The Incentives for Improvement Program (Baltimore, Maryland) and the Windham…

Describes three educational efforts in Kentucky that address the issue of access to mathematics for all children: (1) Learning Algebra through Technology, Investigation, and Cooperative Experiences (LATTICE) (high schools); (2) the Kentucky K-4 Mathematics Specialist Project; and (3) Partnerships for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM)…

Task engagement and conceptual change were studied for 12 sixth graders in 2 classrooms where teachers and instructional materials provided students with extensive support to understand science better. Results indicate that some students recognize the value of science learning and demonstrate cognitive engagement, whereas others pursue alternative…

Reviews literature and discusses results of two national surveys to identify factors influencing participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Notions of self-concept/self-efficacy, peer influence, and goal commitment, which can be traced to early socialization experiences, may account for most participation disparities by race…

Seven articles offer ideas for teaching the arts. Topics include strategies for teaching "Romeo and Juliet," art projects geared to the needs of middle school students, a music listening club that involves parents, tips to help students write better, publishing student authors' work, an art project for at-risk students, and easing…

A study of 545 academically underprepared undergraduates found that attitudes were predictors of later grade performance, that academic background was more important than attitudes, and that initial learner characteristics did not predict grade performance similarly for each ethnic group (Hispanic, Asian-American, African-American, White). The…