The integration of assessment, learning, and instruction are discussed, focusing on the importance of students' prior knowledge. A literature review and analysis of 128 studies provide support for the assertion that assessment has an important impact on instruction and learning. Positive effects were found for progress assessment. (SLD)

Two experiments yield data suggesting that the structure of children's concept of artifact function changes profoundly between age 5 and 7, with striking effects on problem-solving performance. This effect is not caused by differences in children's knowledge about the typical use of particular tools, but rather, is mediated by the structure of the…

On the basis of data from 2 studies with counseling graduate students, the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey--Counselor Edition was revised. The new 33-item instrument consists of 10-item Awareness, 13-item Knowledge, and 10-item Skills subscales. Evidence of reliability and validity are described. (Contains 35 references and 3…

Examined patterns of conceptual and procedural knowledge of addition in 5- to 8-year-olds. Found that children were more successful in noticing that addends had been reordered rather than decomposed and in noticing the decomposition of addends presented with objects rather than with symbols. Also found that profiles of procedural competence were…

Results of two experiments indicated that preschoolers expected adopted babies to share physical properties, but not preferences with their biological parents; and recognized that a baby who looks like and lives with a woman but who grew inside another woman's body is not the first woman's baby. (BC)

Reviews the state of the art in performance measures and assessment processes in program evaluation before the passage of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), and discusses difficulties in fitting these practices into the GPRA format. Presents a simple logic model for evaluating research programs. (SLD)

Argues that David Elliott's conception of the human mind presented in his book "Music Matters" is not coherent. Outlines three alternatives to Elliott's theory of mind. Suggests that the principles associated with the pragmatism of Charles Sanders Pierce would complement Elliott's ideas in his book. (CMK)

Reports on an investigation of student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics. Involves students from a first-year university physics course and a second-year thermal physics course. Focuses on the ability of students to relate the first law to the adiabatic physics course. Discusses implications for thermal physics and mechanics…

Examines the new configurations in global relations and the centrality of knowledge as the emerging currency in that relationship. Argues that the centre-periphery fault line and dichotomy may be less obvious to the younger generation, taking into account the vacuum created by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Includes references. (CMK)

Study assessed the knowledge, beliefs, and social comfort of school counselors-in-training, as related to working with children and adolescents who have or are affected by HIV, and these students' concerns and perceptions about their preparedness. Participants reported high levels of general knowledge and positive beliefs; however, they also…

This article presents the knowledge and skills determined by the Council for Exceptional Children to be necessary for assistive technology specialists. These competencies are designed to provide guidelines for districts as they seek to employ a specialist and guide individuals interested in serving as specialists in their professional development.…

Four studies examined whether 16-month-olds' responses to true/false utterances interacted with their knowledge of human agents. Findings suggested that infants are developing a critical conception of human speakers as truthful communicators and that infants understand that human speakers may provide uniquely useful information when a word fails…

Examined preschoolers' suggestibility when initial beliefs about an object's identity were contradicted by experimenter's suggestion. Found that subjects were good at accepting the suggestion only when the experimenter was better informed than they. Children were least accurate at reporting whether their final belief was based on what they were…

Agricultural communications students (n=330) were surveyed to determine their knowledge of and attitudes toward biotechnology issues reported in the mass media. Although students achieved only 30% correct responses, 84% perceived their knowledge level to be average to high. Most were somewhat accepting of genetic modification for plants but less…

This study compared attitudes toward social limits among adolescents detained for criminal offenses and nondetained adolescents. Findings indicated significant differences between groups in knowledge of behavioral alternatives and behavioral intentions. Nondetained youth reporting high rates of undersocialized behavior were more inclined to…