This text provides educational administrators with a working knowledge of the problem-solving techniques of PERT (planning, evaluation, and review technique), Linear Programming, Queueing Theory, and Simulation. The text includes an introduction to decision-making and operations research, four chapters consisting of indepth explanations of each…

Both curricular reformers and writing specialists believe a connection exists between critical thinking and writing, however two obstacles have prevented any conclusion from emerging. One is that there is no established shared understanding of what "critical thinking" means. The other is that no one knows how to measure it, even though…

Current issues in educational communications and technology are addressed in this collection of 51 papers, which are mainly research reports. The first five papers were prepared for a symposium on the status of research in instructional technology, an introduction and four discussions of divergent points of view in the current controversy over the…

Quality improvement in the workplace via scientific techniques of research and training is discussed. Topics addressed include time factors, salient problems and assignable causes, informed observation, experimental design, study location, and training. Requirements for change in the workplace include: change in management attitudes and structure…

A pretest-posttest control group design was used in a classroom experiment designed to determine whether the problem-solving performance of second grade students would be affected by systematic instruction in estimation. Participants were 36 students in two groups who were given daily lessons in measurement. The experimental group received a daily…

In an effort to provide information about the effect of computer use in schools on student achievement, attitudes, dropout rate, and learning time, a review of instructional computing research analyzed studies done between 1980 and 1987 using statistical summary procedures. Reviewers used a meta analysis procedure to calculate effect size as they…

This book describes the practice of using learner-centered software in special education. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 provides a discussion of software that goes beyond drill and practice and at the same time fits easily into the existing subject areas of reading/language arts and mathematics. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss using word…

Part of a larger project, "The U.S. and the USSR: Choices for the 21st Century," that is aimed at developing curricular materials for use at the secondary, undergraduate, and adult education levels, this book helps high school students to think through some of the complex issues surrounding U.S.-Soviet relations and the nuclear arms race…

Blue ribbon commissions in the United States from 1965-1983 are discussed with attention to what makes a commission effective, the history of blue ribbon commissions, features of a commission, whether these commissions are useful on campus, and criticisms of blue ribbon commissions. Factors that contribute to the effectiveness of a blue ribbon…

"Critical thinking" has been defined as reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do. Since the social sciences require practitioners to ask relevant questions, develop appropriate evaluation criteria, generalize from observed facts, conceptualize hypotheses, and make judgements, critical thinking skills should…

This module is the seventh of 10 modules in the competency-based electronics series. Introductory materials include a listing of competencies addressed in the module, and a cross-reference table of instructional materials. Three instructional units cover: block diagrams; board-level repairs; and component-level troubleshooting. Each unit includes…

This study was conducted to identify what elementary school staff and district parents believed to be important elementary guidance services. A needs assessment questionnaire was given to all 112 staff members (principals, teaching staff, teacher aides, secretaries, and school nurse) in the district's 2 elementary schools. Fifty-eight completed…

A unit of study that introduces collecting, representing, describing, and interpreting data is presented. Suitable for students in grades 4 through 6, it provides a foundation for further work in statistics and data analysis. The investigations may extend from one to four class sessions and are grouped into three parts: "Introduction to Data…

The case study is designed to be used with the inservice training program developed by the Child-Centered Inservice Training and Technical Assistance Network (Syracuse, New York), which provides services to professional and paraprofessional personnel working with students with severe disabilities receiving their education in regular education…

The context of learning with computers is different from that of more traditional educational media because the computer is a new medium whose interactivity supports dynamic, evident, and malleable representations of abstract ideas. The model proposed addresses some mediating factors of the environment in which computers are used that affect…