A study of 78 graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) found that those with exposure to prior training and higher amounts of teaching experience demonstrated higher self-efficacy than those with less training and experience. It is suggested that these factors may increase teaching assistant effectiveness and that both formal and on-the-job training of…

To investigate the ability of multiple-choice tests to assess higher order thinking skills, examinations were constructed as half multiple choice and half constructed response. Results with 90 undergraduate and graduate students indicate that the 2 formats measure similar constructs at different levels of complexity. (SLD)

Examines the writings of graduate students in a seminar to reveal a complex discursive scene. Provides a narratological analysis of student authorship. Raises questions about writing across the curriculum theory and suggests new possibilities for research and teaching. (HB)

Discusses the lack of teacher training provided for teaching assistants in history departments. Argues that emphasis on research and publication is misplaced because most new Ph.D.s will be teaching rather than publishing. Urges teacher training to prepare graduate students for their chosen profession and to improve undergraduate education. (DK)

Describes workshops for library instruction and orientation developed at the University of Arizona to meet the needs of transfer students and graduate students. The inclusion of lectures, tours, CD-ROM demonstrations, and written materials is described; methods of publicity are discussed; and the results are indicated. (six references) (LRW)

States that schools of library and information science should reaffirm their commitment to increasing minority access to the profession by adopting a comprehensive program for the recruitment of minorities. Strategies for developing an effective recruitment plan are outlined, and the benefits and goals of mentoring are discussed. (seven…

An analysis used 1987 national student aid data to examine the influence of prices on within-year persistence by graduate students. Results indicated that graduate students, especially in public institutions, are responsive to tuition charges in their persistence decisions. It is suggested that institutions carefully examine the potential impact…

Educators are concerned about overuse or inappropriate use of standardized test scores as graduate school admission criteria, particularly for minority groups. Efforts to reduce test bias are increasing, and admissions officers are encouraged to focus more on qualitative elements of applications, such as essays, letters of recommendation, and…

Results of a study of international graduate teaching assistant (ITA) language competence suggest that groups of undergraduates can provide a responsible majority vote regarding the readiness of an ITA to assume instructional duties, if those undergraduate focus on categories identified in a formal evaluation sheet. An evaluation sheet is…

A survey of the physician faculty and house staff (n=492) at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center gathered information on physicians' experiences with and recommendations for first postgraduate year curriculum. Almost half the respondents felt the curriculum should be specialty specific, whereas one-third recommended a broad-based,…

Made two counseling videotapes: Tape A proposed to be consistent with cultural upbringing and values of international students, and Tape B proposed to by culturally discrepant. Two tapes were empirically shown to be significantly different from each other by counseling professionals as well as by counselor trainees. Both counseling perspectives…

A survey of 105 institutions concerning their use of 3 standardized English tests with foreign graduate students investigated the differences in use and variance among test scores established by different institutions. Overall, results indicate the language proficiency of international graduate students is not examined very carefully before…

The national survey of full-time graduate social work students (N=687) examined student characteristics and practice orientations. Comparison of 1990 graduates with earlier cohorts suggests that, although students' personal characteristics have shifted, their motivations and goals are compatible with traditional social work functions. (Author/MLW)

Describes a training program conducted to prepare graduate students to teach laboratory-tutorial classes in an introductory psychology course. States that the program consisted of four sessions held over six weeks, and included role playing, video feedback, discussion, and written guidelines. Reports a positive reaction to the program. (DB)

Analysis of performance evaluations of 233 international graduate teaching assistants found that students who received negative recommendations for teaching assignments had significantly lower Test of English-as-a-Foreign-Language and Graduate Record Examination verbal scores than those who received positive recommendations. (27 references)…