Examines responses of 40,435 students from the "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey" and uses student self-reported school risk behaviors to "predict" recent weapon possession at school. Although school risk behaviors were moderately correlated with school weapon possession, many frequent weapon carriers displayed zero…

Describes an action research project designed to experiment with alternative forms of feedback and to circumvent the less helpful aspects of written marking. As part of the project, four writing teachers formed an action research group to investigate the feasibility of offering audiotaped feedback in a systematic fashion to groups of students. (15…

Examines how modeling, grade in school, gender, and attitudes toward women relate to sexist or nonsexist language usage in high school students. Analyses of questionnaire responses from 144 high school students reveal main effects for gender, year in school, and condition on nonsexist language use. Females used less sexist language than males, and…

Reports the reactions and attitudes of students to taking a computer-based course through two questionnaires. Data from the study are analyzed in detail, and the attitudes and reactions of the students are linked to features of the computer-based learning (CBL) material and its use, and to possible more general attitudes of the students.…

The issue of state-imposed standards and high-stakes tests for graduation and promotion has polarized communities and school boards. Lawsuits have arisen in Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Indiana, and California. Although opinion polls still strongly support standards and accountability, a backlash is spreading in some districts. (MLH)

With strong administrative and parental support, Hinsdale (Illinois) Central High School successfully launched an inclusive (and heterogeneous-grouping) policy with five special-needs ninth graders in fall 1995; eight others took some regular courses while remaining in their traditional special-education program. (MLH)

Discusses the process of creating a course that aims to strengthen in students the four central components of civic learning (motivation, skills, knowledge, and values) by employing three different types of instruction (service learning, collaborative learning, and problem-based learning). Describes the course and its success in fostering civic…

Investigates the effects of teaching with an interactive tutorial multimedia unit on students' understanding of concepts presented in the unit and their perceptions of the learning environment. Discusses the results and concludes that the multimedia unit shows promising effects on students' acquisition of knowledge. (CMK)

Explores intergroup bias with nonethnic peer social groups by asking 30 children between the ages of 4 and 12 to make attributions about both positive and negative behaviors performed by both someone they liked and and someone they disliked. Discusses the results. (CMK)

Describes the ramifications of a writing assignment for preservice teachers about their relationships with literature. Reports on several of the students' personal writings in response to the assignment. Presents responses of two teachers, Greg Hamilton and Deborah Kinder, about doing personal writing assignments. (PA)

Describes an exercise where students examine their perceptions of normative developmental patterns in life domains across an adult life span. Explains that the activity aims at eliminating the myth of a single prime of life. Discusses the post-exercise discussion and student evaluations of the exercise. (CMK)

Presents information based on a yearlong study of character education in an elementary school that was implementing "Kids with Character." Offers an analysis of the responses by students, teachers, and parents about character, development of character, and the program. Indicates that contemporary character education programs are similar…

Contends that distance-education technology can strengthen traditional courses in various ways. Focuses on the unintended benefits of distance-education technology: (1) transferable components from distance education; (2) strengthening the organization of traditional courses; (3) extended student interactions and teacher control; (4) student…

The relation between learning environment (perceptions of classroom goal structure and teachers' instructional discourse) and students' reported use of avoidance strategies (self-handicapping, avoidance of help seeking) and preference to avoid novelty in mathematics was examined. High incidence of motivational support was uniquely characteristic…

The predictive validity of active responding on a computer-based groupware system was examined with 48 second graders. Results showed that active responding correlated highly with initial and final performance measures and that active responding contributed significantly to predicting final performance when initial performance was controlled.…