Student engagement during testing in the full range of writing process activities they had been taught was studied. Results with 28 third-grade draft sets, 21 fifth-grade sets, and 38 eighth-grade sets on the Maryland School Performance Assessment writing test show that students' peer responses are unengaged, minimal, and formulaic, and that their…

Addresses some of the recent criticism aimed at educational research, its failure to provide a sound base for teaching or to generate a cumulative body of knowledge. Answers that there is always a dichotomy between research and application and argues that restrictions would only worsen the situation. (MJP)

Reprints 11 standards for assessing quality in service learning projects from the Alliance for Service-Learning in Education Reform. Each standard provides a rationale and relevant examples. Standards include youth being involved in the planning, program requiring preparation and reflection, and project making a meaningful contribution to the…

Praises the efforts to develop a national standards for civics and government. However, discovers serious shortcomings in the current product. Claims that the current standards blur important distinctions and contain a number of factual errors. Recommends reducing the conceptual outlines and increasing illustrative cases and texts. (MJP)

Considers a number of questions connected to the world of visual art that artists, art educators, and writers about art view as essential. These questions cover broad areas such as definitions and purposes, as well as, more specific concerns such as women artists and the art market. (MJP)

Briefly reviews the declining enrollment rates for undergraduate economics majors. Observes that after record enrollments during the 1980s, interest in a bachelor's economics degree dropped sharply in the 1990s. Discusses possible reasons for this decline and provides statistics. (MJP)

Postulates five reasons for declining undergraduate enrollment in economics including corresponding decline in business enrollment; slowdown in financial services; competition from other subjects; decline in student academic skills; and a decline in faculty teaching skills. Discusses strengths and weaknesses of each argument. (MJP)

Discusses the problems arising from pursuing a graduate degree in Asian American history at an institution that does not have an Asian American program. Outlines various pedagogical strategies including making exhaustive use of local resources, borrowing heavily from other institutions, and working for the establishment of an Asian American…

Deals with the vulnerable position of nursery education in 1990s Britain, given the changing nature of the family in society and particularly in view of nursery education's weakly articulated justification in the face of government intervention in education. Discusses current standards of evaluation (OFSTED inspections) and achievement and the…

Maintains that the nature, aims, and processes of architecture parallel those of education. Discusses the interconnections between the disciplines and suggests that architecture is an effective way of integrating art education into the K-12 curriculum. Recommends an approach to architecture emphasizing the humanist and inclusive aspects over the…

Argues that recent changes in higher education in the United Kingdom make the traditional mode of fieldwork delivery unsustainable. This, coupled with criticisms of past fieldwork practices, suggests a need for a thorough re-evaluation of the role and implementation of fieldwork programs. Briefly reviews educational theories concerning fieldwork.…

A sample of 49 non-psychology majors taking a course integrating library research skills with social science research showed increases in skill level, efficiency, and positive attitudes toward the library after a semester of outcome-focused instruction. The results suggest that co-development between course and library faculty can be an effective…

This article outlines a five-step process for use in selecting and adopting curriculum-based measures designed to facilitate a linked system approach and promote family-centered, collaborative, early childhood intervention practices. Within a linked system approach, assessment information guides the development of goals and objectives, which in…

Reported is a case study of environmental education students (19) at Johannesburg College of Education. The case study used a phenomenological approach. Reasons for the evaluation design and results of the evaluation are included. (CW)

Survey results from 50 state education agencies and the District of Columbia about secondary school reform show 88 percent have developed an improvement effort. Text and four tables present responses to the following topics: major impetus for the reform effort, funding for support, graduation requirements, testing programs, teacher certification…