The ambiguities surrounding computer simulations in sociology teaching and research on the university level are described and the implications of computers as a teaching technique are explored. Intended as an explanation to sociology teachers and researchers of how students' learning experiences are shaped by their orientations to computer…

The review of the empirical literature on simulation gaming categorizes positive, negative, and contradictory aspects of gaming as an educational tool as revealed by the research. The review, which concentrates on simulation games for elementary and secondary school students, is presented in seven sections. Section I presents a brief history of…

A survey was conducted to examine the behavior of students as they decide where to go to college; in particular, the effects of financial considerations on their decision are examined. Admissions data from a group of select private colleges and universities are described along with trends in admissions at these schools. A random sample of parents…

The contribution of education to social protest movements within the United States and Canada is analyzed. The purpose of the study was to call attention to educational programs which have succeeded in facilitating social change. The method used was evaluation of advantages and limitations of education through case studies of 28 social movements.…

An approach for selecting, modifying, and using protocol-related materials in elementary social studies is described. Protocol materials are defined as original records of an event or a behavior which can be observed and analyzed by inservice and preservice teacher education students. The approach, beginning with the presentation of an editorial…

Describes a survey which examined local government documentation in academic and public libraries of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The results, which provide current data on document management and maintenance practices, are compared with the results of four previous studies. (Author/CLB)

Describes study of 435 Israeli elementary school students to assess effects of open education on reading comprehension assignments. Literature on open education is reviewed, the hypotheses tested are described, results are analyzed comparing the effects of open education with the effects of traditional classroom instruction, and 46 references are…

Describes a study of sixth graders which was conducted to determine whether general ability or locus of control influences selection of instructional options in a computer-based lesson on four propaganda techniques used in advertisements, and whether the selection of options increases achievement on tests involving classification of new items.…

This study demonstrated that, although standard instructional design revisions of a traditional textbook chapter had no effect on teacher attitudes toward adoption of the material, the revised version of the chapter significantly improved student performance. Teacher and student participants in the study were from the St. Petersburg…

Study of 68 school media centers in 11 states was conducted to field-test collection mapping as a technique and to amass enough data to enable individual schools to compare their collections with national pool of school collections. Collections of participating schools were also compared to nationally recognized selection lists. (CDD)

A series of 11 articles describes information technologies being used in the U.S. Congress, the impact of these technologies, and possible future developments. Included are a chronology of key actions affecting congressional information support and a list of readings in information technology and Congress. (CLB)

Describes factors shaping library and information science field to illustrate the need for continuing education (CE), and constructs a de facto library school CE role based on indicators developed from examination of patterns in presence of CE coordinator, CE pattern statistics, course content, costs, and CE announcements in professional…

This study investigated effects of rehearsal strategies and immediate test formats on delayed retention and effectiveness of visualization on material acquisition and retrieval. Findings indicate different rehearsal methods have different effects in facilitating delayed retention. Information acquisition is facilitated by visualization, although…

Documentation for a dramatic science fiction pilot program, "Star Crusaders," includes a review of the scientific literatures on race relations and television effects, a discussion of the creation of the story and production problems, and reports on two content analyses (one by the audience) and a field experiment. (MBR)

This special supplement to the Winter 2003 issue of "National CrossTalk" offers a snapshot of round one of the current recession and its impact on state higher education budgets enacted and revised in the last half of 2002. It is a composite drawn from the most credible national sources of higher education information in the states at the…