Reports on a study of the effectiveness of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in providing African American and female middle school students with scientist role models. Quantitative and qualitative data gathered by analyzing messages students and scientists posted on a shared electronic bulletin board showed that CMC could be an effective…

Asserts that many educators do not hold curriculum studies in high regard. Reviews the "Handbook of Research on Curriculum," published by the American Educational Research Association. Concludes that the volume will serve the interests of researchers but not other constituents within the curriculum community. (CFR)

Explores reasons for absence of Chicanos in rural sociology. Possible causes include (1) absence of rural-sociology support system for Chicanos; (2) social-class biases and other institutional factors limiting Chicanos' higher-education and research opportunities; and (3) subject-matter limitations and uncertain status of ethnic studies. Suggests…

Attempts to define a paradigm that helps shape the African-American studies discipline, and argues that emphasis must be placed on generating practical and emancipatory knowledge. African-American studies is a necessary discipline if Afrocentric scholars are to be generated who have a commitment to being scholar activists. (SLD)

Illustrates the use of computer data banks in history by examining the Medieval and Early Modern Data Bank (MEMDB) located at Rutgers University. States the database contains an expanding collection of historical monetary and price/wage data. Includes instructions, examples of search strategies, and an annotated bibliography. (CFR)

Presents a description of a college-level course on gender politics. Recommends instructional techniques, content topics, and instructional resources. States that the course has been received positively by students. (CFR)

Potential extinction of the human smallpox virus lies in the hands of a few scientists and policymakers. Whether this decision should be made can serve as an excellent issue for extended, focused classroom discussion. Outlines the history of smallpox, illustrates the debate, and describes preparation needed before discussing the issue. Also…

Analyzed personal pronoun use in 36 scientific journal articles, focusing on how use of personal pronouns may reveal writers' perceptions of their own role in research and their relationship with expected readers and the scientific/academic community. Use of first-personal plural pronouns was most common, with a number of semantic references and…

Considers the opportunities and ethical issues involved in genetic testing. Reviews the history of genetics from the first discoveries of Gregor Mendel, through the spurious pseudo-science of eugenics, and up to the discovery of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick. Explains how genetic tests are done. (MJP)

Characterizes the questioning behavior in reference interviews preceding delegated online searches of bibliographic databases and relates it to questioning behavior in other types of interviews/settings. Compares questions asked by the information specialist and those asked by the client; findings show the information specialist dominates the…

Examines how gender and self-concept relate to gifted elementary students' participation in a biochemistry enrichment program taught by female and male scientists. Students with low self-concepts asked more questions and received more feedback than students with high self-concepts. Student-initiated questions and gender differences in interaction…

During a symposium in 1997, speakers raised three issues about gender equity and research: (1) distinguishing between the meanings of the terms gender and sex, (2) assuring that science methods classes are gender inclusive, and (3) determining the reasons for changing practice. (DDR)

Describes a study that investigated the methods which scientists use for the access and retrieval of journal articles, specifically how they first became aware of a certain article which they cited and how they obtained it. Implications for the role of academic libraries are discussed. (Contains 18 references.) (LRW)

Describes the historical development of the field of ecology. Maintains that the ecological revolution, which began quietly in America, unleashed powerful forces of concern for the world and its future. (Contains 14 references.) (WRM)

Problem based learning (PBL) is offered as an example of a problem-focused and student-centered pedagogical approach that foregrounds the curricular imperatives outlined in the KALPIER Report and provides an innovative educational experience for students. A successful implementation of PBL in a graduate level course in e-commerce illustrates…